Restriction of SARS-CoV-2 Replication by Targeting Programmed −1 Ribosomal Frameshifting In Vitro

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Abstract

Translation of open reading frame 1b (ORF1b) in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) requires programmed −1 ribosomal frameshifting (−1 PRF) promoted by an RNA pseudoknot. The extent to which SARS-CoV-2 replication may be sensitive to changes in −1 PRF efficiency is currently unknown. Through an unbiased, reporter-based high-throughput compound screen, we identified merafloxacin, a fluoroquinolone antibacterial, as a −1 PRF inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2. Frameshift inhibition by merafloxacin is robust to mutations within the pseudoknot region and is similarly effective on −1 PRF of other beta coronaviruses. Importantly, frameshift inhibition by merafloxacin substantially impedes SARS-CoV-2 replication in Vero E6 cells, thereby providing the proof of principle of targeting −1 PRF as an effective antiviral strategy for SARS-CoV-2.

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  1. SciScore for 10.1101/2020.10.21.349225: (What is this?)

    Please note, not all rigor criteria are appropriate for all manuscripts.

    Table 1: Rigor

    Institutional Review Board Statementnot detected.
    Randomizationnot detected.
    Blindingnot detected.
    Power Analysisnot detected.
    Sex as a biological variablenot detected.
    Cell Line Authenticationnot detected.

    Table 2: Resources

    Antibodies
    SentencesResources
    After 1-hour blocking with 5% nonfat dry milk in PBST, the membrane was incubated with primary antibodies (rabbit anti-C19ORF66, Invitrogen # PA5-59815;
    anti-C19ORF66
    suggested: (Thermo Fisher Scientific Cat# PA5-59815, RRID:AB_2638887)
    ; mouse anti-β-Actin) diluted (1:2000) in 5% milk/PBST at 4 °C with slow shaking overnight.
    anti-β-Actin
    suggested: None
    Experimental Models: Cell Lines
    SentencesResources
    Dual-luciferase PRF reporter assay: HeLa and HEK293T cells were cultured in DMEM with 10% fetal bovine serum (
    HeLa
    suggested: None
    High-throughput compound screen: HEK293T cells were plated in 384 well plates at the density of 5,000 cells/well.
    HEK293T
    suggested: None
    SARS-CoV-2 plaque formation assay: Vero E6 cells (ATCC) were seeded at 2 × 105 cells/well in 12-well plates.
    Vero E6
    suggested: None

    Results from OddPub: We did not detect open data. We also did not detect open code. Researchers are encouraged to share open data when possible (see Nature blog).


    Results from LimitationRecognizer: An explicit section about the limitations of the techniques employed in this study was not found. We encourage authors to address study limitations.

    Results from TrialIdentifier: No clinical trial numbers were referenced.


    Results from Barzooka: We did not find any issues relating to the usage of bar graphs.


    Results from JetFighter: We did not find any issues relating to colormaps.


    Results from rtransparent:
    • Thank you for including a conflict of interest statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
    • Thank you for including a funding statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
    • No protocol registration statement was detected.

    About SciScore

    SciScore is an automated tool that is designed to assist expert reviewers by finding and presenting formulaic information scattered throughout a paper in a standard, easy to digest format. SciScore checks for the presence and correctness of RRIDs (research resource identifiers), and for rigor criteria such as sex and investigator blinding. For details on the theoretical underpinning of rigor criteria and the tools shown here, including references cited, please follow this link.