Filovirus Antiviral Activity of Cationic Amphiphilic Drugs Is Associated with Lipophilicity and Ability To Induce Phospholipidosis
Antonia P. Gunesch, Francisco J. Zapatero‐Belinchón, Lukas Pinkert, Eike Steinmann, Michael P. Manns, Gisbert Schneider, Thomas Pietschmann, Mark Brönstrup, Thomas von Hahn
Abstract
Several cationic amphiphilic drugs (CADs) have been found to inhibit cell entry of filoviruses and other enveloped viruses. Structurally unrelated CADs may have antiviral activity, yet the underlying common mechanism and structure-activity relationship are incompletely understood. We aimed to understand how widespread antiviral activity is among CADs and which structural and physico-chemical properties are linked to entry inhibition. We measured inhibition of Marburg virus pseudoparticle (MARVpp) cell entry by 45 heterogeneous and mostly FDA-approved CADs and cytotoxicity in EA.