Design and testing of novel viral fusion inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2
South Africa
Overview of research project
This project has employed computational (in silico) methods to design a novel class of inhibitors against the SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19). The project has employed state-of-the-art computer-aided drug design (CADD) methods to develop an initial library of putative small molecule inhibitors. Because the compounds are novel, our research group will spend the next 6-18 months synthesizing and characterizing several of the test agents to produce pure, well-characterized compounds for screening. This will be followed by biophysical studies to delineate the binding of the test compounds to the target protein. Compounds that avidly bind to their intended target will undergo in vitro screening to experimentally delineate which, if any, of the compounds are efficacious against the virus.
Name of researcher/developer
Orde Q. Munro
Primary organisation
University of the Witwatersrand
Opportunity type
Collaboration
Funding
Opportunity detail
Funding is required to enable the PI to hire one or more post-doctoral research fellows to conduct the compound synthesis and screening in this project. The PI is currently collaborating with a colleague within WITS University in the School of Molecular and Cell Biology (Prof. Yasien Sayed) on the expression of the recombinant protein target for the planned biophysical studies with the novel drug candidates. A post-doctoral research fellow skilled in the methods of protein expression and purification is required for this part of the project. In 12-24 month's time we will be looking to collaborate with a virologist who has suitable BSL-4 research facilities and expertise with respiratory viruses to conduct drug screens with any initial hit compounds we discover using fully viable SARS-CoV-2 strains in cell cultures.
Funding
Repurposing of existing grants
Stage of development
Pre-clinical drug discovery at the concept development and testing stage.
Collaboration partner
Current collaborations:
[1] University of the Witwatersrand (Internal)
Potential future collaboration - virology:
(2) Queens University, Belfast (Professor Ultan Power)
[1] University of the Witwatersrand (Internal)
Potential future collaboration - virology:
(2) Queens University, Belfast (Professor Ultan Power)
Research Category
Pharmaceuticals and Biopharmaceuticals