US 2025/0205178 A1 · METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR INHIBITING VIRAL METHYLTRANSFERASES

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 has caused a global pandemic with significant humanity and economic loss since the beginning of 2020. Flaviviruses such as Zika and Dengue viruses are also significant human pathogens. Although SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are effective in preventing severe disease outcomes, they are less effective in controlling infection or re-infection, particularly due to rapid evolution of viral variants of SARS-CoV-2. Currently only limited options are available to treat SARS-CoV-2 and flavivirus infections for vulnerable populations. Potential of a future pandemic of other viruses is high. The present invention features compositions and methods for a universal high throughput screening (HTS) assay to identify inhibitors targeting the S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM)-binding site of viral methyltransferases (MTases) using SAM as a methyl donor.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A fluorescence polarization (FP)-based method to identify an inhibitor targeting an S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM)-binding site of a viral methyltransferase (MTase) for a coronavirus or a flavivirus, said method comprising:

a. introducing the inhibitor and a fluorescent analog of a methyl donor SAM to the coronavirus or the flavivirus for them to compete to combine with the viral MTase of the coronavirus or the flavivirus;
and
b. measuring binding of the fluorescent analog and the viral MTase,
wherein binding of the fluorescent analog and the viral MTase increases the fluorescence polarization of the fluorescent analog,
wherein binding of the inhibitor and the viral MTase reduces the fluorescence polarization of the fluorescent analog.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Methods and compositions for inhibiting viral methyltransferases

Life of this patent

Methods and compositions for inhibiting viral methyltransferases

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19