Reappraisal of trifluperidol against Nsp3 as a potential therapeutic for novel COVID-19: A molecular docking and dynamics study

Abstract

Novel COVID-19 is a highly infectious disease that is caused by the recently discovered SARS-CoV-2. It is a fast-spreading disease that urgently requires therapeutics. The current study employed computational regression methods to target the ADP-ribose phosphatase (ADRP) domain of Nsp3 using FDA-approved drugs. Identified leads were further investigated using molecular dynamics simulation (MDS). The screening and MDS results suggest that trifluperidol could be a novel inhibitor of the ADRP domain of Nsp3. Trifluperidol could, therefore, be used to help control the spread of COVID-19, either alone or in combination with antiviral agents.