Russian scientists from the Novosibirsk Institute of Organic Chemistry, Volgograd State Technical University and the Vector State Virology and Biotechnology Science Center have obtained a series of compounds capable of combating cow and mouse pox virus and potentially effective against other orthopox viruses, including monkeypox virus. was done. Rospotrebnadzor’s photo. This was reported to socialbites.ca by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation.
“Most likely, the compounds will show activity against monkeypox virus. We are almost certain of that.
Monkeypox virus is very similar to variola virus and these compounds are likely to be active against it. No such experiment has been conducted so far, Anastasia Sokolova, senior researcher at NIOCH SB RAS’s Laboratory of Physiologically Active Substances, told socialbites.ca.
The researchers obtained compounds similar in structure, based on natural substances such as camphor and fenchon. They prevent the formation of new virions by interfering with the later stages of the virus’ reproductive cycle. True, exactly how is not yet entirely clear, more research is needed to understand the mechanism of action.
In total, more than 100 kinds of molecules were obtained. Practically under the experimental conditions on cell cultures, all of them turned out to be non-toxic and showed high activity against vaccinia virus and smallpox viruses of cows and mice.
The scientists stated that if the substance suppresses the cowpox virus, it will be active against other orthopox viruses.
“Vaccinia virus is a surrogate virus used to test and identify poxvirus agents. It’s like the first screening: first, all substances are tested against the vaccine virus – especially because it’s easier to work with, and then the most active compounds are subjected to long-term testing. This , rat pox virus, cowpox virus and others. And if, according to the results of extended tests, substances that effectively inhibit (suppress) these viruses are detected, then they already switch to the variola virus, ”explains Sokolova.
“Only the best-proven compounds are being tested on the variola virus in the earlier stages of the study,” he summarizes. This approach is primarily used for security reasons.
So far, tests have only been done on cell cultures. Before testing compounds in animals, we first need to solve the problem of bioavailability: the resulting molecules are poorly water-soluble, and we need to figure out the best way to deliver the compounds to the body so that they can enter the bloodstream, Sokolova explains. .
The researchers also compared the efficacy of the compounds with the antiviral drugs Cidofovir and ST-246. In cell culture experiments, the new substances work better than cidofovir, but so far they are less active than ST-246.
“It seems to me that the development of new antiviral agents is always a hot topic.
There are constantly emerging new virus threats (SARS-CoV-2 being the prime example) or re-outbreaks of existing viruses (such as influenza or monkeypox).
Our research team has been working on the development of antiviral agents based on natural compounds for over 10 years. We are now trying to develop compounds so that they have a better efficacy than both the reference drugs Cidofovir and ST-246,” says Sokolova.
Virologist Pavel Volchkov, head of the laboratory for genomic engineering, explained in a conversation with Gazeta that it was too early to draw conclusions about the possibility of creating a drug against smallpox, as not all compounds that showed good results in cell culture were then available. suitable for being the basis of medicine.
“Unfortunately, only 5-10% of compounds that actively suppress pathogens on cells (including orthopox viruses) can then be used as a drug substance,” said the virologist. “It’s about toxicity. It is necessary to create a drug that works at low doses, needs to be specific and high affinity, that is, it can bind well to orthopoxvirus proteins and cannot bind to human proteins (or proteins of cows, monkeys, mice – these proteins). for whom the medicine was prepared). Creating such a drug is really difficult, and not a single candidate molecule remains in animal experiments. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the future success of compounds at a different stage in the creation of the drug,” he said.
Smallpox has proven to be one of the deadliest and highly contagious diseases humanity has faced in history.
The first attempts to inoculate against smallpox with the help of pus from pustules date back to the early Middle Ages. In the 18th century, vaccination with cowpox appeared – the disease progressed easily in humans, conferring natural immunity to smallpox. More modern smallpox vaccines emerged in the 20th century. As a result of mass vaccination, the last case of natural smallpox was reported in Somalia in 1977 and the last case of laboratory infection in 1978. In 1980, WHO officially declared smallpox eradicated.
In May 2022, an epidemic of monkey disease genetically related to smallpox became known.
The disease is transmitted through direct physical contact and airborne droplets, mostly affecting children and immunocompromised persons. It previously infected children and adolescents in Africa, but has now spread to other regions. In total, more than 1,200 cases of infection were registered in dozens of countries at the beginning of June, and the number of patients continues to rise.