A SARS-CoV-2 protein interaction map reveals targets for drug repurposing

The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19 respiratory disease, has infected over 2.3 million people, killed over 160,000, and caused worldwide social and economic disruption1,2. There are currently no antiviral drugs with proven clinical efficacy, nor are there vaccines for its prevention, and these efforts are hampered by limited knowledge of the molecular details of SARS-CoV-2 infection. To address this, we cloned, tagged and expressed 26 of the 29 SARS-CoV-2 proteins in human cells and identified the human proteins physically associated with each using affinity-purification mass spectrometry (AP-MS), identifying 332 high-confidence SARS-CoV-2-human protein-protein interactions (PPIs). Among these, we identify 66 druggable human proteins or host factors targeted by 69 compounds (29 FDA-approved drugs, 12 drugs in clinical trials, and 28 preclinical compounds). Screening a subset of these in multiple viral assays identified two sets of pharmacological agents that displayed antiviral activity: inhibitors of mRNA translation and predicted regulators of the Sigma1 and Sigma2 receptors. Further studies of these host factor targeting agents, including their combination with drugs that directly target viral enzymes, could lead to a therapeutic regimen to treat COVID-19

Three Girls in a Flat

Chicago: Knight, Leonard and Co., 189

Prospective Study Of An Emergency Department Febrile Neutropenia Pathway In Patients With Hematologic Malignancies

Abstract Background Febrile neutropenia (FN) is an oncologic emergency associated with high morbidity and mortality, particularly in patients (pts) with hematologic malignancies. Delays in antibiotic administration, which can occur in busy emergency departments (EDs), lead to worse outcomes. We instituted a FN pathway (FNP) in the Cleveland Clinic (CC) ED to reduce antibiotic delays. Methods This prospective study comparing patients from 06/12 - 06/13 to historical pts from 02/10 - 05/12, represented a collaboration among cancer center, ED, infectious disease, pharmacy, and electronic medical record representatives. Fever was defined as temperature >38°C either at home or in the ED, while neutropenia as absolute neutrophil count <0.5 x 109/L. All CC cancer pts received a special “Neutropenic Risk Hospital Medical Alert Card,” which they presented upon CC ED registration with fever. The pathway formally recognized “fever with a history of cancer” to be a distinct chief complaint and FN to be categorized as Emergency Severity Index level 2 (equivalent to stroke or myocardial infarction) for immediate triage and care. ED-specific electronic FN order sets were created to facilitate antibiotic, laboratory, and blood culture ordering, with antibiotics administered prior to return of neutrophil count. The primary goal of the FNP is administration of empiric broad-spectrum antibiotics within 120 minutes of ED presentation, per Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines; and the primary outcomes measured were time intervals related to it, e.g. time to blood draw, physician assessment, and antibiotic order/administration. Group comparisons were made using the chi-square, Kruskal-Wallis, Wilcoxon rank-sum, and log rank tests, as appropriate. All reported times were from ED registration. Results In total, 137 consecutive FN episodes in 115 pts with hematologic malignancies occurred during the 12 month study period, 63 episodes in 44 pts in the historical cohort. All pts were triaged and treated using the ED FNP, but use of the specific FN order set was variable: episodes were thus classified as treated per the order set (n=53) or not (n=84 – pts still received antibiotics, but not necessarily per the order set). Overall 60% of pts (n=89) were male and the median age at the time of first ED encounter was 59 years (range 20-88). Cancers were: non-Hodgkin lymphoma (38%), acute myeloid leukemia (21%), other leukemias (15%), and myelodysplastic syndromes (8%). Compared to historical pts, FNP study pts had a higher median ANC (2.0 vs. 0.2, p<0.0001), were less likely to be on growth factors (26% vs. 41%, p=0.06) and more likely to have received prophylactic antibiotics (55% vs. 35%, p=0.006). For the outcome of interest, FNP study pts had significantly shorter time to having blood drawn (median 38.5 vs. 70 minutes, p<0.0001), seeing a doctor (median 44 vs. 71 minutes, p=0.0002) and to receiving antibiotics (median 79 vs. 228 minutes, p<0.0001). Time to admission was also shorter for FNP study pts (4.2 vs. 6.0 hours, p<0.0001), though study pts were less likely to be admitted than historical controls (83% vs. 97%, p=0.005). For FNP pts admitted to the hospital, there was a non-significant decrease in length of stay (median 3.8 vs 4.6 days, p=0.28), ICU admission (7% versus 11%, p=0.26), and length of ICU stay (median 1.9 vs 2.3 days, p=0.83) compared to historical controls. Comparing the two FNP groups treated or not treated per the order set, those treated using the order set had shorter times to antibiotics being ordered (median 28.0 vs. 60.5 minutes, p0.28). Conclusion The FNP significantly decreased time from ED registration to all set time-points, including time to antibiotics by almost three-fold, compared to historical controls in pts with hematologic malignancies. Rate of hospitalization was significantly lower, and ICU and length of stay numerically lower. The FNP is an effective clinical tool to provide prompt antibiotic administration to FN pts and likely represents a significant mechanism for improved outcomes and cost-savings to patients with hematologic malignancies presenting with FN. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare

Reducing Time to Antibiotic Administration for Febrile Neutropenia in the Emergency Department

Purpose: Febrile neutropenia (FN) is an oncologic emergency, and prolonged time to antibiotic administration (TTA) is associated with increased hospital length of stay (LOS) and worse outcomes. We hypothesized that a febrile neutropenia pathway (FNP) quality initiative project would reduce TTA delays for febrile patients with cancer presenting to the emergency department (ED). Methods: This prospective study compared ED FNP patients (> 18 years old), between June 2012 and June 2013 with both historical and direct admissions (DA) cohorts at a multispecialty academic center. Interventions included providing patients with FN-Alert cards, standardizing the definition of FN and recognizing it as a distinct chief complaint, revising ED triage level for FN, creating electronic FN order sets, administering empiric antibiotics before neutrophil count result, and relocating FN antibiotics to the ED. The primary outcome was TTA, with a target goal of 90 minutes after ED presentation. Results: In total, 276 FN episodes in 223 FNP patients occurred over the 12-month study period and were compared with 107 episodes in 87 patients and 114 episodes in 101 patients in the historical and DA cohorts, respectively. Use of the FNP reduced TTA from 235 and 169 minutes in historical and DA cohorts, respectively, to 81 minutes, and from 96 to 68 minutes when the order set was not used versus used in the FNP group (P < .001 for all comparisons). Decrease in hospital LOS was not statistically significant. Conclusion: The ED FNP is a significant quality initiative with sustainable interventions, and was able to demonstrate value by decreasing TTA compared to both historical and DA controls in cancer patients presenting to the ED

Signal peptide mimicry primes Sec61 for client-selective inhibition

Preventing the biogenesis of disease-relevant proteins is an attractive therapeutic strategy, but attempts to target essential protein biogenesis factors have been hampered by excessive toxicity. Here we describe KZR-8445, a cyclic depsipeptide that targets the Sec61 translocon and selectively disrupts secretory and membrane protein biogenesis in a signal peptide-dependent manner. KZR-8445 potently inhibits the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines in primary immune cells and is highly efficacious in a mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis. A cryogenic electron microscopy structure reveals that KZR-8445 occupies the fully opened Se61 lateral gate and blocks access to the lumenal plug domain. KZR-8445 binding stabilizes the lateral gate helices in a manner that traps select signal peptides in the Sec61 channel and prevents their movement into the lipid bilayer. Our results establish a framework for the structure-guided discovery of novel therapeutics that selectively modulate Sec61-mediated protein biogenesis.Peer reviewe