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Anti-Infective Agents

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ISSN (Print): 2211-3525
ISSN (Online): 2211-3533

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Research Article

In silico Drug Repurposing for the Identification of Antimalarial Drugs as Candidate Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2

Author(s): Praveen Kumar Pasla*, Pugazhenthan Thangaraju, Sree Sudha T.Y., Sri Chandana M. and Rizwaan Abbas S.

Volume 20, Issue 2, 2022

Published on: 10 February, 2022

Article ID: e021221198497 Pages: 7

DOI: 10.2174/2211352519666211202141143

Price: $65

Abstract

Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a severe acute respiratory condition that has affected millions of people worldwide, indicating a global health emergency. Despite the deteriorating trends of COVID-19, no drugs are validated to have substantial efficacy in the potential treatment of COVID-19 patients in large-scale trials.

Methods: This study aimed at identifying potential antimalarial candidate molecules for the treatment of COVID and evaluating the possible mechanism of action by in silico screening method. In silico screening studies on various antimalarial compounds, like amodiaquine, chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, mefloquine, primaquine, and atovaquone, were conducted using PyRx and AutoDoc 1.5.6 tools against ACE 2 receptor, 3CL protease, hemagglutinin esterase, spike protein of SARS HR1 motif, and papain-like protease virus proteins.

Results: Based on PyRx results, mefloquine and atovaquone were found to have higher docking affinity scores against virus proteins compared to other antimalarial compounds. Screening report of atovaquone exhibited affirmative inhibition constant for spike protein of SARS HR1 motif, 3CL protease, and papain-like protease.

Conclusion: In silico analysis reported atovaquone as a promising candidate for COVID 19 therapy.

Keywords: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), antimalarial drugs, in silico, PyRx and AutoDoc 1.5.6 tools, virus proteins, ACE receptor.

Graphical Abstract

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