Novel drug targets for monkeypox: From viral to host proteins
Background: The ongoing threat of the monkeypox virus (MPXV) underscores the need for new antiviral treatments, yet drug targets and candidate therapies are limited. Methods: Calculating the centrality, conservation, and immunogenicity of MPXV proteins in the network to identify viral drug targets....
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Infectious Medicine |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772431X25000048 |
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| _version_ | 1823856657704157184 |
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| author | Zhaozhong Zhu Qin Sun Yunhai Xu Youya Niu Fei Yang Shuidong Feng |
| author_facet | Zhaozhong Zhu Qin Sun Yunhai Xu Youya Niu Fei Yang Shuidong Feng |
| author_sort | Zhaozhong Zhu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The ongoing threat of the monkeypox virus (MPXV) underscores the need for new antiviral treatments, yet drug targets and candidate therapies are limited. Methods: Calculating the centrality, conservation, and immunogenicity of MPXV proteins in the network to identify viral drug targets. Constructing the MIP-human protein interaction network and identifying key human proteins as potential drug targets through network topology analysis. Results: We constructed a comprehensive protein–protein interaction (PPI) network between MPXV and humans, using data from the P-HIPSTer database. This network included 113 viral proteins and 2 607 MPXV-interacting human proteins (MIPs). We identified three MPXV proteins (OPG054, OPG084, and OPG190) as key targets for antiviral drugs, as well as 95 critical MIPs (most interacting MIPs, MMIPs) within the MPXV–human PPI network. Further analysis revealed 31 MMIPs as potential targets for broad-spectrum antiviral agents, supported by their involvement in other viral interactions. Functional enrichment of MIPs indicated their roles in infection and immune-related pathways. Conclusions: In total, we identified 112 drugs targeting MPXV proteins and 371 drugs targeting MMIPs, with fostamatinib, trilostane, and raloxifene being able to inhibit both viral and host proteins. This work provides critical insights into MPXV–human interactions and supports the development of targeted antiviral therapies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4ec25444d0b84888ba79f94d5375b749 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2772-431X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Infectious Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-4ec25444d0b84888ba79f94d5375b7492025-02-12T05:33:08ZengElsevierInfectious Medicine2772-431X2025-03-0141100165Novel drug targets for monkeypox: From viral to host proteinsZhaozhong Zhu0Qin Sun1Yunhai Xu2Youya Niu3Fei Yang4Shuidong Feng5School of Public Health, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, Hunan Province, China; Corresponding authors.School of Public Health, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, Hunan Province, ChinaHunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Geochemical Processes and Resource Environmental Effects, Changsha 410116, Hunan Province, ChinaSchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Hunan University of Medicine, Huaihua 418000, Hunan Province, ChinaSchool of Public Health, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, Hunan Province, China; Corresponding authors.School of Public Health, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, Hunan Province, China; Corresponding authors.Background: The ongoing threat of the monkeypox virus (MPXV) underscores the need for new antiviral treatments, yet drug targets and candidate therapies are limited. Methods: Calculating the centrality, conservation, and immunogenicity of MPXV proteins in the network to identify viral drug targets. Constructing the MIP-human protein interaction network and identifying key human proteins as potential drug targets through network topology analysis. Results: We constructed a comprehensive protein–protein interaction (PPI) network between MPXV and humans, using data from the P-HIPSTer database. This network included 113 viral proteins and 2 607 MPXV-interacting human proteins (MIPs). We identified three MPXV proteins (OPG054, OPG084, and OPG190) as key targets for antiviral drugs, as well as 95 critical MIPs (most interacting MIPs, MMIPs) within the MPXV–human PPI network. Further analysis revealed 31 MMIPs as potential targets for broad-spectrum antiviral agents, supported by their involvement in other viral interactions. Functional enrichment of MIPs indicated their roles in infection and immune-related pathways. Conclusions: In total, we identified 112 drugs targeting MPXV proteins and 371 drugs targeting MMIPs, with fostamatinib, trilostane, and raloxifene being able to inhibit both viral and host proteins. This work provides critical insights into MPXV–human interactions and supports the development of targeted antiviral therapies.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772431X25000048Monkeypox virusPredictionProtein–protein interactionsNetworkDrug |
| spellingShingle | Zhaozhong Zhu Qin Sun Yunhai Xu Youya Niu Fei Yang Shuidong Feng Novel drug targets for monkeypox: From viral to host proteins Infectious Medicine Monkeypox virus Prediction Protein–protein interactions Network Drug |
| title | Novel drug targets for monkeypox: From viral to host proteins |
| title_full | Novel drug targets for monkeypox: From viral to host proteins |
| title_fullStr | Novel drug targets for monkeypox: From viral to host proteins |
| title_full_unstemmed | Novel drug targets for monkeypox: From viral to host proteins |
| title_short | Novel drug targets for monkeypox: From viral to host proteins |
| title_sort | novel drug targets for monkeypox from viral to host proteins |
| topic | Monkeypox virus Prediction Protein–protein interactions Network Drug |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772431X25000048 |
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