Revision of QSAR, Docking, and Molecular Modeling Studies of Anti-Influenza Virus A (H1N1) Drugs and Targets: Analysis of Hemagglutinins 3D Structure

Abstract

Recently WHO and NREVSS collaborating laboratories located in all 50 states, and Washington D.C reported that out of 3,588 specimens,164 were found positive for influenza type (i.e. 4.6%) and from these 164 specimens 162 (i.e. 98.8 %) were of influenza A H1N1 subtype. Comparative study of the past and current reports gives a general idea that the influenza activity deserves high attention from public health authorities in the U.S. In this connection, presently some groups are developing intensive computer-aided research in QSAR, Docking, Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Sequence Analysis and Phylogenetic analysis of candidate compounds and/or targets; in order to advance in the treatment and/or prevention of this pandemic Flu. In this work, primarily we carry out a mini-review of the more important theoretical studies reported until now within this area, followed by the study of a specific type of target. Keeping in view the nature of this virus, we can conclude that there is always a need to find other target protein as inhibitor other than the existing one. So that this lethal pandemic flu can be treated and prevented further. Therefore, after Neuraminidase and M2 ion channels the surface protein that we can target in H1N1 strain is Hemagglutinins (HA). We use comparative modeling; which is one of the methods that can reliably generate a 3D model for HA protein. Multiple structures of this subtype of Influenza Virus are available at PDB, but we are focused on Influenza A (H1N1). Therefore, methodology of analysis mainly focuses on modeling the structure of this protein and, if possible, finding a probable active sites and inhibitors to it.

A Virtual Screening Approach For Identifying Plants with Anti H5N1 Neuraminidase Activity

“…WHO recommends stockpiling NA inhibitors such as zanamivir (Relenza, GlaxoSmithKline) and oseltamivir (Tamiflu, Roche), , which have recently replaced older drugs like rimantadine and amantadine. , However, the threat of an H1N1 flu pandemic, the sudden emergence of oseltamivir-resistant H1N1, and the emergence of potentially pathogenic H3N2 and H5N1 strains warrant ongoing efforts to identify novel anti-influenza compounds. Consequently, many researchers have expended considerable effort in the pursuit of antiviral small molecules via bioinformatics studies, hit-and-lead discovery approaches, and analogue synthesis. − …”