Since the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003, the harm caused by coronaviruses to the world cannot be underestimated. Recently, a novel coronavirus (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 [SARS‐CoV‐2]) initially found to trigger human severe respiratory illness in Wuhan City of China in 2019, has infected more than six million people worldwide by 21 June 2020, and which has been recognized as a public health emergency of international concern as well. And the virus has spread to more than 200 countries around the world. However, the effective drug has not yet been officially licensed or approved to treat SARS‐Cov‐2 and SARS‐Cov infection. NSP12‐NSP7‐NSP8 complex of SARS‐CoV‐2 or SARS‐CoV, essential for viral replication and transcription, is generally regarded as a potential target to fight against the virus. According to the NSP12‐NSP7‐NSP8 complex (PDB ID: 7BW4) structure of SARS‐CoV‐2 and the NSP12‐NSP7‐NSP8 complex (PDB ID: 6NUR) structure of SARS‐CoV, NSP12‐NSP7 interface model, and NSP12‐NSP8 interface model were established for virtual screening in the present study. Eight compounds (Nilotinib, Saquinavir, Tipranavir, Lonafarnib, Tegobuvir, Olysio, Filibuvir, and Cepharanthine) were selected for binding free energy calculations based on virtual screening and docking scores. All eight compounds can combine well with NSP12‐NSP7‐NSP8 in the crystal structure, providing drug candidates for the treatment and prevention of coronavirus disease 2019 and SARS.

A novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) that is initially found to trigger human severe respiratory illness in Wuhan City of China in 2019, has killed 2,718 people in China by February 26, 2020, and which has been recognized as a public health emergency of international concern as well. And the virus has spread to more than 38 countries around the world. However, the drug has not yet been officially licensed or approved to treat SARS-Cov-2 infection. NSP12-NSP7-NSP8 complex of SARS-CoV-2, essential for viral replication and transcription, is generally regarded as a potential target to fight against the virus. According to the NSP12-NSP7-NSP8 complex (PDB ID: 6NUR) structure of SARS, two homologous models were established for virtual screening in the present study, namely NSP12-NSP7 interface model and NSP12-NSP8 interface model. Seven compounds (Saquinavir, Tipranavir, Lonafarnib, Tegobuvir, Olysio, Filibuvir, and Cepharanthine) were selected for binding free energy calculations based on virtual screening and docking scores. All seven compounds can combine well with NSP12-NSP7-NSP8 in the homologous model, providing drug candidates for the treatment and prevention of SARS-CoV-2.

Fosfomycin is now widely used to treat methicillin-resistant S. aureus due to its unique antibacterial activity. However, fosfomycin-resistant S. aureus has rapidly emerged, it is urgent to find new treatments to eliminate fosfomycin-resistant S. aureus infection. The purpose of this study was to analyze the activity of cryptanshinone, a traditional Chinese medicine monomer, in combination with fosfomycin against fosfomycin-sensitive S. aureus (FSSA) and fosfomycin-resistant S. aureus (FRSA). Methods: The MICs of fosfomycin and/or cryptanshinone were determined by agar dilution assay and checkerboard microdilution assay. Furthermore, synergistic effects from fosfomycin and/or cryptanshinone were analyzed by the time-kill assay in vitro. Results: The combination of fosfomycin and cryptotanshinone had a synergistic effect on most (71.43%) of the FRSA and had a partial (28.57%) synergistic effect on a small part. In addition, time sterilization curve verified synergistic activity between cryptanshinone and fosfomycin against FSSA and FRSA, especially when fosfomycin was added for a second time. Conclusion: These data suggest that cryptanshinone combined with fosfomycin could be a novel treatment for FRSA and provide a new direction for the treatment of bacterial infections in the future.

Back Cover Caption: The cover image is based on the Research Article SARS‐CoV‐2 and SARS‐CoV: Virtual Screening of Potential inhibitors targeting RNA‐dependent RNA polymerase activity (NSP12) by Zijing Ruan et al., https://doi.org/10.1002/jmv.26222.