Anti-monkeypox Drug Discovery Services Targeting Protease

As a leading company in biotechnology, Creative Biolabs provides efficient and stable one-stop anti-monkeypox drug discovery services targeting protease through our stable and reproducible experimental data and our advanced technology platform.

Background of Monkeypox Virus

Monkeypox virus (MPXV) can self-replication within a period of time after infecting host cells and generate a large number of double-stranded DNA viruses. After entering the host cell, MPXV will release a large number of viral enzymes to regulate the transcription and replication of its own genes. Viral proteases can convert high molecular weight oligomeric proteins into functional gene products during viral replication and mature structural proteins during viral assembly. The cleavage of viral precursor proteins can form a special cellular environment suitable for virus assembly and is the key member to virus infection and self-replication. Viral proteases are also involved in the formation of progeny virions and the decapsulation process of extracellular virions, mediating the intercellular transmission and diffusion of viruses.

Current Status

Based on the research on the variola virus and other orthopox viruses, several promising anti-monkeypox drugs have entered the development process. These drugs have been specially designed to target various key events and important molecules of monkeypox virus infection, or to evoke an immune program to attack infected cells. However, there are still few antiviral compounds designed directly against MPXV protease. With the expansion of chemical synthesis approaches and molecular biology theory, MPXV protease has also been proposed as a potential disease resistance target.

Technical Method

Deeply understanding of molecular biology, virology, and pharmacy has provided comprehensive technical and theoretical support for the discovery of anti-monkeypox drugs.

Disease Model

Stable and reliable disease experimental models have been developed, including monolayer BSC-1 for in vitro experiments, BSC-40 and STAT1-deficient mice, black-tailed marmot, dormouse, crab-eating monkeys and other experimental animals for in vivo animal experiments.

Antiviral Compound Screening and Synthesis

Chemical synthesis databases and technology provide powerful research tools for drug discovery and development. Compound structures can be directly screened and functionally predicted.

Fig 1. Screening of compound derivatives to determine cytotoxicity and antiviral capacity. (Priyamvada, 2021)

Antiviral Activity Assay

According to the calculation of 50% toxic concentration and 50% inhibitory concentration obtained from the monolayer cell experiment, the curve of the compound's anti-monkeypox ability can be quantified intuitively.

Fig 2. Virus plaque assay image. (Priyamvada, 2020)

Enzyme Activity Test

Through the labeling and detection of substrates and products, the enzyme kinetics and enzyme inhibition ability after drug treatment can be determined, which helps to understand the molecular mechanism of drug resistance to monkeypox.

Tracer Technology

The process of virus-infected cells by amino acid labeling is of great value to the study of the biochemical functions and properties of viral proteases.

Virus Transmission Test

The ability of the virus to enter cells and spread to other cells can be quantified by luciferase labeling and tracking of mature and extracellular virions.

Other methods

In addition to some targeted research techniques, common histological assays, cytotoxicity assays, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, pharmacokinetic analysis, and real-time quantitative PCR can be used in the development of anti-monkeypox drugs and provide comprehensive experimental support.

Our Service

With years of research experience in the field of biotechnology and our advanced and cutting-edge theoretical basis and technology platform, Creative Biolabs now provides services of anti-monkeypox drug discovery targeting protease and monkeypox products for our clients all over the world, and assist your development of truly effective and stable drug for such diseases. Please feel free to contact us with our specialist for further information.