Structure‐Based In Silico Discovery of Thymidine Kinase Inhibitors Targeting the Fatal Goatpox Virus: Integrating Multi‐Library Screening and Molecular Dynamic Simulation

Abstract Goat‐Pox Virus (GTPV), a highly virulent Capri‐pox virus (CaPV) poses significant economic threats due to high morbidity and mortality in livestock. While vaccination remains the primary control strategy, frequent outbreaks highlight the urgent need for targeted antiviral therapies. The Thymidine Kinase protein sequence was retrieved from the NCBI database, and its 3D structure was predicted using the Robetta server, refined with GalaxyRefine, and validated via SAVES v6.0, ERRAT (90.06%), and ProSa ( Z ‐score: −7). Ramachandran plot analysis confirmed 98.2% of residues in favored regions. The CASTp server identified Pocket 1 as the most viable active site (surface area: 377.747 Å 2 ; volume: 246.836 Å 3 ). Virtual screening and Molecular docking using DrugRep screened FDA‐approved, experimental, and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) compounds. Among them, Dolutegravir (FDA; −9.9 kcal/mol), Indirubin‐5‐sulphonate (experimental; −10.5 kcal/mol), and Sauchinone (TCM; −10.5 kcal/mol) showed the highest binding affinities. The Absorptive, distributive, metabolic, excretory, and toxic (ADMET) analysis via SwissADME and STopTox predicted favorable pharmacokinetics and low toxicity. Molecular dynamics simulations using CABS‐Flex validated the stability of these ligand‐TK complexes. Overall, this integrative computational approach highlights TK as a viable antiviral target and identifies promising lead compounds for further validation. This study presents the first comprehensive computational framework identifying GTPV‐TK inhibitors, offering a robust foundation for developing novel anti‐capripoxviral therapies.

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Journal
ChemistrySelect
Published
2025-09-26
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/slct.202503462
Citations
2
Primary Topic
vaccines and immunoinformatics approaches
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
1.61
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article

Structure‐Based In Silico Discovery of Thymidine Kinase Inhibitors Targeting the Fatal Goatpox Virus: Integrating Multi‐Library Screening and Molecular Dynamic Simulation

Fazal Akbar, Syed Shujait Ali, Sajjad Ahmad, Arshad Iqbal et al.
2 citations
ChemistrySelect
vaccines and immunoinformatics approaches
1.61
article

Structure‐Based In Silico Discovery of Thymidine Kinase Inhibitors Targeting the Fatal Goatpox Virus: Integrating Multi‐Library Screening and Molecular Dynamic Simulation

Fazal Akbar, Syed Shujait Ali, Sajjad Ahmad, Arshad Iqbal, Zahid Hussain, Israr Hussain, K. Rahman, Inamul Haq, Muhammad Rahiyab
article en
2 citations

Abstract

Abstract Goat‐Pox Virus (GTPV), a highly virulent Capri‐pox virus (CaPV) poses significant economic threats due to high morbidity and mortality in livestock. While vaccination remains the primary control strategy, frequent outbreaks highlight the urgent need for targeted antiviral therapies. The Thymidine Kinase protein sequence was retrieved from the NCBI database, and its 3D structure was predicted using the Robetta server, refined with GalaxyRefine, and validated via SAVES v6.0, ERRAT (90.06%), and ProSa ( Z ‐score: −7). Ramachandran plot analysis confirmed 98.2% of residues in favored regions. The CASTp server identified Pocket 1 as the most viable active site (surface area: 377.747 Å 2 ; volume: 246.836 Å 3 ). Virtual screening and Molecular docking using DrugRep screened FDA‐approved, experimental, and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) compounds. Among them, Dolutegravir (FDA; −9.9 kcal/mol), Indirubin‐5‐sulphonate (experimental; −10.5 kcal/mol), and Sauchinone (TCM; −10.5 kcal/mol) showed the highest binding affinities. The Absorptive, distributive, metabolic, excretory, and toxic (ADMET) analysis via SwissADME and STopTox predicted favorable pharmacokinetics and low toxicity. Molecular dynamics simulations using CABS‐Flex validated the stability of these ligand‐TK complexes. Overall, this integrative computational approach highlights TK as a viable antiviral target and identifies promising lead compounds for further validation. This study presents the first comprehensive computational framework identifying GTPV‐TK inhibitors, offering a robust foundation for developing novel anti‐capripoxviral therapies.

ChemistrySelectVol. 10(37)
University of Swat (PK), Zero to Three (US)
Openalex Percentile: Top 15%
vaccines and immunoinformatics approaches
1.61
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