A SARS-CoV-2 cytopathicity dataset generated by high-content screening of a large drug repurposing collection

Sci Data. 2021 Feb 26;8(1):70. doi: 10.1038/s41597-021-00848-4.

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, in which acute respiratory infections are associated with high socio-economic burden. We applied high-content screening to a well-defined collection of 5632 compounds including 3488 that have undergone previous clinical investigations across 600 indications. The compounds were screened by microscopy for their ability to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 cytopathicity in the human epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line, Caco-2. The primary screen identified 258 hits that inhibited cytopathicity by more than 75%, most of which were not previously known to be active against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. These compounds were tested in an eight-point dose response screen using the same image-based cytopathicity readout. For the 67 most active molecules, cytotoxicity data were generated to confirm activity against SARS-CoV-2. We verified the ability of known inhibitors camostat, nafamostat, lopinavir, mefloquine, papaverine and cetylpyridinium to reduce the cytopathic effects of SARS-CoV-2, providing confidence in the validity of the assay. The high-content screening data are suitable for reanalysis across numerous drug classes and indications and may yield additional insights into SARS-CoV-2 mechanisms and potential therapeutic strategies.

Publication types

  • Dataset
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology*
  • Benzamidines
  • COVID-19
  • Caco-2 Cells
  • Cetylpyridinium
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Drug Repositioning*
  • Esters
  • Guanidines
  • Humans
  • Lopinavir
  • Mefloquine
  • Papaverine
  • SARS-CoV-2 / drug effects*

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Benzamidines
  • Esters
  • Guanidines
  • camostat
  • Lopinavir
  • Cetylpyridinium
  • Papaverine
  • Mefloquine
  • nafamostat