Targeted computer modelling to accelerate antiviral drug development

“Efficient pandemic preparedness requires new, broadly effective antiviral drugs against which the viruses cannot quickly develop resistance,” explains Andreas Dräger, junior professor at the University of Tübingen and member of the Tübingen Cluster of Excellence “Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections – CMFI”. “But drug development takes too much precious time, which is urgently needed in an emergency.”

Dräger wants to remedy this situation through computer modelling. In 2021, the Tübingen research group identified a human enzyme in the model—guanylate kinase 1—indispensable for virus replication and can be switched off without damaging the cell. Now, the bioinformatician has developed a new model with his colleagues to examine the effectiveness of their targets. “Through an improved analysis technique, we can now specifically model viral infection in many different types of tissue,” explains Nantia Leonidou, first author of the current study.

Using their integrated systems biology model to simulate infection with SARS-CoV-2 in bronchial epithelial cells, the researchers can identify host-based metabolic pathways that can be inhibited to suppress viral replication. “If you know the composition of a virus, you can run different scenarios and see how the biochemical reactions in host cells change during viral infection,” Dräger says. The team developed high-quality software to simulate an infection in a cell-type-specific manner.

Applying the model to another cell type, the research group confirmed the previously identified target, guanylate kinase 1, and discovered other new biochemical targets with remarkable antiviral effects. The most promising new hit was CTP synthase 1. Inhibition of this enzyme in the model reduced viral growth by 62 per cent without affecting the maintenance of the human host cells. Both target molecules are closely linked to the structure of genetic material, which requires the same building blocks in both the virus and the host cells. Andreas Dräger’s team believes these findings provide a crucial basis for accelerating the development of viral inhibitors.

“Our models could represent a paradigm shift in drug development and accelerate the preclinical phase,” emphasises Nantia Leonidou, adding, “The methods are fully transferable to any virus and host cell type and are also commercially viable.”

MEDICA-tradefair.com; Source: Deutsches Zentrum für Infektionsforschung