Development of cross-virus drugs using norovirus as a model

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K17921
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 54030:Infectious disease medicine-related
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: hayashi hironori 東北大学, 災害科学国際研究所, 助教 (00752916)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: ウイルス横断的研究 / 薬剤開発 / プロテアーゼ / ノロウイルス / 新型コロナウイルス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

As novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) showed, viruses acquiring high infectivity between humans cause global pandemic and threaten not only the life but also economy, social and cultural activity of human. To take measure these pandemics, the research platform, which enable to promptly develop the therapeutic agents, is indispensable. This research focused on common points among viruses belonging different species. Norovirus (NoV) and SARS-CoV-2 need 3C-like protease (3CL-Pro) cording their genomic DNA to replicate in host cells. To develop anti-NoV and anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents, we targeted 3CL-Pro and make crystals, which were constructed with complex of novel compound and 3CL-Pro of SARS-CoV-2 (Mpro). The results of 3D structural analysis showed interaction way between the compound and Mpro. Additionally, the plasmid coding NoV 3CL-Pro was constructed for protein expression and crystallization. These results would contribute to develop anti-SARS-CoV-2 and anti-NoV agents.

Free Research Field

創薬研究

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

ヒト-ヒト間で高い感染性を獲得したウイルスの台頭は、世界的パンデミックを引き起こし、人類の生命だけでなく、経済、社会、文化にまで影響を及ぼすパンデミックとなる。ウイルス間の共通項や差異に着目した「ウイルス横断的な創薬研究」の基盤構築は、現在進行形で起こっているパンデミックや、将来起こり得る新興再興感染症のアウトブレイクの予防や早期鎮圧に必要不可欠な治療薬を迅速に開発するための研究基盤構築に資する。本研究で行った結晶構造解析の成果は、レムデシビル以上の抗ウイルス活性を持つ新規SARS-CoV-2治療薬だけでなく抗NoV薬の開発を加速する重要な成果である。