Targeting SARS-CoV-2 Mpro and PLpro by Repurposing Clinically Approved Drugs.

Qiaoyu Fang, Meng Lu, Derong Chen, Liangxu Xie, Wenxu Hong, Zhang Zhang, Xuqiao Hu

Abstract read

In one paragraph

Article in Viruses, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it

0cells of the map it votes in

0citing papers in PubMed

–field-weighted citation impact

1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Qiaoyu FangShenzhen Center for Chronic Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen Institute of Dermatology, Shenzhen 518020, China.

Meng LuShenzhen Center for Chronic Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen Institute of Dermatology, Shenzhen 518020, China.ORCID 0009-0008-8804-0563

Derong ChenShenzhen Center for Chronic Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen Institute of Dermatology, Shenzhen 518020, China.

Liangxu XieInstitute of Bioinformatics and Medical Engineering, School of Electrical and Information Engineering, Jiangsu University of Technology, Changzhou 213000, China.ORCID 0000-0002-0609-5333

Wenxu HongShenzhen Center for Chronic Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen Institute of Dermatology, Shenzhen 518020, China.ORCID 0000-0003-0260-1099

Zhang ZhangShenzhen Center for Chronic Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen Institute of Dermatology, Shenzhen 518020, China.

Xuqiao HuShenzhen Center for Chronic Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen Institute of Dermatology, Shenzhen 518020, China.ORCID 0000-0001-5047-1730

Funding

National Natural Foundation of China No.82204681

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 virus contains two highly conserved domains, the papain-like protease (PLpro) and main protease (Mpro), which play important roles in virus replication, immune suppression, and the induction of inflammation in host tissue. In this study, we applied small-molecule chip screening, enzymatic assays, SARS-CoV-2 spike pseudotyped virus detection and molecular docking to find potential Mpro or PLpro inhibitors. Two small molecules, oxytocin and risedronate sodium, stood out in drug repurposing. Oxytocin and risedronate sodium were shown to influence the activities of Mpro and PLpro, thereby preventing the virus from replication, which may alleviate SARS-CoV-2 infection. Thus, oxytocin, risedronate sodium, and cephalosporins may expand the drug library for treating coronavirus infection.

Indexed as

Antiviral AgentsCoronavirus 3C ProteasesCoronavirus Papain-Like ProteasesCOVID-19 Drug TreatmentDrug RepositioningSARS-CoV-2COVID-19HumansMolecular Docking SimulationVirus ReplicationAntiviral AgentsCoronavirus 3C ProteasesCoronavirus Papain-Like Proteasespapain-like protease, SARS-CoV-2cephalosporin drugsMprooxytocinPLproSARS-CoV-2

Identifiers

PMID41472235

DOI10.3390/v17121564

PMCPMC12737678

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata

LicenceCC BY

Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.