title: Effects of singlet oxygen generated by a broad-spectrum viral fusion inhibitor on membrane nanoarchitecture.
abstract: Targeting membranes of enveloped viruses represents an exciting new paradigm to explore on the development of broad-spectrum antivirals. Recently, broad-spectrum small-molecule antiviral drugs were described, preventing enveloped virus entry at an intermediate step, after virus binding but before virus-cell fusion. Those compounds, including an oxazolidine-2,4-dithione named JL103 that presented the most promissing results, act deleteriously on the virus envelope but not at the cell membrane level. In this work, by using atomic force microscopy (AFM), we aimed at unraveling the effects that JL103 is able to induce in the lipid membrane architecture at the nanoscale. Our results indicate that singlet oxygen produced by JL103 decreases membrane thickness, with an expansion of the area per phospholipid, by attacking the double bonds of unsaturated phospholipids. This membrane reorganization prevents the fusion between enveloped virus and target cell membranes, resulting in viral entry inhibition.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The recent development of a family of innovative broad-spectrum small-molecule antiviral drugs that block virus cell entry has provided exciting armors against viruses. In this research paper, the authors utilize atomic force microscopy to investigate the mechanism of action of viral blockade. The findings have resulted in new understanding of cell membrane behavior, which may help in further drug design.
authors: Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors: Axel
authors: A
authors: Hollmann
authors: Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors: Sónia
authors: S
authors: Gonçalves
authors: Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors: Marcelo T
authors: MT
authors: Augusto
authors: Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors: Miguel A R B
authors: MA
authors: Castanho
authors: Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
authors: Benhur
authors: B
authors: Lee
authors: Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal. Electronic address: nsantos@fm.ul.pt.
authors: Nuno C
authors: NC
authors: Santos
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008958:Models, Molecular; D010080:Oxazoles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D026082:Singlet Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism*; D013871:Thiones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D053586:Virus Internalization / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D010080:Oxazoles; D010743:Phospholipids; D013871:Thiones; C064210:oxazolidine; D026082:Singlet Oxygen
keywords: AFM; Broad-spectrum antiviral; Membrane organization; Singlet oxygen