Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41188391›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2025

Structural insights into natural compound inhibitors of the human metapneumovirus nucleocapsid protein via molecular dynamics and free energy landscape analyses.

Maha M Alawi, Raidan M Alyazidi, Leena H Bajrai, Hattan S Gattan, Thamir A Alandijany, Ibrahim A Al-Zahrani, Vivek Dhar Dwivedi, Esam I Azhar

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing 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

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Frontiers in medicine · 2026
    Article
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

8 authors.

Maha M AlawiSpecial Infectious Agents Unit-BSL3, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21362, Saudi Arabia.
Raidan M AlyazidiSpecial Infectious Agents Unit-BSL3, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21362, Saudi Arabia.
Leena H BajraiSpecial Infectious Agents Unit-BSL3, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21362, Saudi Arabia.
Hattan S GattanSpecial Infectious Agents Unit-BSL3, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21362, Saudi Arabia.
Thamir A AlandijanySpecial Infectious Agents Unit-BSL3, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21362, Saudi Arabia.
Ibrahim A Al-ZahraniSpecial Infectious Agents Unit-BSL3, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21362, Saudi Arabia.
Vivek Dhar DwivediCenter for Global Health Research, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha Medical College and Hospitals, Saveetha University, Chennai, India. vivek_bioinformatics@yahoo.com.
Esam I AzharSpecial Infectious Agents Unit-BSL3, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21362, Saudi Arabia. eazhar@kau.edu.sa.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a major contributor to acute respiratory tract infections, particularly affecting children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. Despite its global prevalence, no specific antiviral treatments or vaccines are available, highlighting the urgent need for effective therapeutic interventions. This study utilized a comprehensive computational drug discovery approach to identify potential inhibitors targeting the highly conserved nucleocapsid (N) protein of HMPV, a crucial component in viral replication and transcription. A virtual screening of 1,227 natural compounds from the NP-lib database was performed, identifying MOLPORT-001-742-110, MOLPORT-001-812-855, and MOLPORT-001-740-100 as the top candidates based on their docking scores and binding energies. The initial results were validated through re-docking, molecular interaction analysis, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. MOLPORT-001-742-110 demonstrated the highest stability with minimal deviations in Root Mean Square Deviation (RMSD) and Root Mean Square Fluctuation (RMSF) analyses, as well as a well-defined low-energy conformation in the Free Energy Landscape (FEL). Key hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions were retained, reinforcing its strong binding affinity. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and superimposition studies further supported the stability and adaptability of these compounds within the binding site. Comparative analyses with the control compound confirmed the superior inhibitory potential of the selected ligands, particularly MOLPORT-001-742-110. This study underscores the utility of computational approaches in identifying natural product-based inhibitors and provides a foundation for experimental validation and development of antiviral therapies against HMPV.

Indexed as

Antiviral AgentsBiological ProductsMetapneumovirusNucleocapsid ProteinsDrug DiscoveryHumansMolecular Docking SimulationMolecular Dynamics SimulationProtein BindingThermodynamicsAntiviral AgentsBiological ProductsNucleocapsid ProteinsAntiviral drug discoveryHuman metapneumovirusMolecular dynamics simulationNatural inhibitorsNucleocapsid protein

Identifiers

PMID41188391
PMCPMC12586523

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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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 OpenQuestion graph.