antiviral agents
Antiviral AgentsComparative Therapeutic Potential of ALX-0171 and Palivizumab against Respiratory Syncytial Virus Clinical Isolate Infection of Well-Differentiated Primary Pediatric Bronchial Epithelial Cell CulturesRespiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes severe lower respiratory tract infections in young infants. There are no RSV-specific treatments available. Ablynx has been developing an anti-RSV F-specific nanobody, ALX-0171. To characterize the therapeutic potential of ALX-0171, we exploited our well-differentiated primary pediatric bronchial epithelial cell (WD-PBEC)/RSV infection model, which replicates several hallmarks of RSV disease ...
Antiviral AgentsAnti-inflammatory Compound Shows Therapeutic Safety and Efficacy against Flavivirus InfectionFlaviviruses comprise several medically important viruses, including Japanese encephalitis virus, West Nile virus, dengue virus (DENV), yellow fever virus, and Zika virus (ZIKV). A large outbreak of DENV and ZIKV occurred recently, leading to many cases of illness and death. However, despite decades of effort, we have no clinically specific therapeutic drugs against DENV and ZIKV. Previous studies showed that inflammatory responses play...
Antiviral AgentsA New Role for Capsid Assembly Modulators To Target Mature Hepatitis B Virus Capsids and Prevent Virus InfectionHepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major human pathogen, killing an estimated 887,000 people per year. Therefore, potentially curative therapies are of high importance. Following infection, HBV deposits a covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) in the nucleus of infected cells that serves as a transcription template and is not affected by current therapies. HBV core protein allosteric modulators (CpAMs) prevent correct capsid assembly but may...
Antiviral AgentsAzithromycin Protects against Zika Virus Infection by Upregulating Virus-Induced Type I and III Interferon ResponsesAzithromycin (AZM) is a widely used antibiotic, with additional antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties that remain poorly understood. Although Zika virus (ZIKV) poses a significant threat to global health, there are currently no vaccines or effective therapeutics against it. Here, we report that AZM effectively suppresses ZIKV infection in vitro by targeting a late stage in the viral life cycle.
Antiviral AgentsNucleoside Analogs with Antiviral Activity against Yellow Fever VirusYellow fever virus (YFV) is a human Flavivirus reemerging in parts of the world. While a vaccine is available, large outbreaks have recently occurred in Brazil and certain African countries. Development of an effective antiviral against YFV is crucial, as there is no available effective drug against YFV.
Antiviral AgentsNucleoside Analogs with Selective Antiviral Activity against Dengue Fever and Japanese Encephalitis VirusesDengue virus (DENV) and Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) are important arthropod-borne viruses from the Flaviviridae family. DENV is a global public health problem with significant social and economic impacts, especially in tropical and subtropical areas.
Antiviral AgentsSrc Family Kinase Inhibitors Block Translation of Alphavirus Subgenomic mRNAsAlphaviruses are arthropod-transmitted RNA viruses that can cause arthralgia, myalgia, and encephalitis in humans. Since the role of cellular kinases in alphavirus replication is unknown, we profiled kinetic changes in host kinase abundance and phosphorylation following chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection of fibroblasts.
Antiviral AgentsViral RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase Inhibitor 7-Deaza-2′-C-Methyladenosine Prevents Death in a Mouse Model of West Nile Virus Infection...West Nile virus (WNV) is a medically important emerging arbovirus causing serious neuroinfections in humans and against which no approved antiviral therapy is currently available. In this study, we demonstrate that 2′-C-methyl- or 4′-azido-modified nucleosides are highly effective inhibitors of WNV replication, showing nanomolar or low micromolar anti-WNV activity and negligible cytotoxicity in cell culture.
Antiviral AgentsCidofovir Diphosphate Inhibits Adenovirus 5 DNA Polymerase via both Nonobligate Chain Termination and Direct Inhibition, and Polymerase Mutations Confer Cidofovir Resistance on Intact VirusHuman adenovirus (AdV) can cause fatal disease in immune-suppressed individuals, but treatment options are limited, in part because the antiviral cytidine analog cidofovir (CDV) is nephrotoxic. The investigational agent brincidofovir (BCV) is orally bioavailable, nonnephrotoxic, and generates the same active metabolite, cidofovir diphosphate (CDVpp).
Antiviral AgentsIdentification of Retinoic Acid Receptor Agonists as Potent Hepatitis B Virus Inhibitors via a Drug Repurposing ScreenCurrently available therapies for chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection can efficiently reduce viremia but induce hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss in very few patients; also, these therapies do not greatly affect the viral covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA). To discover new agents with complementary anti-HBV effects, we performed a drug repurposing screen of 1,018 Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved compounds...