Current status of anti-SARS agents.

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Infectious Diseases
• Drug Discovery

Background:

• Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a novel, severe, and highly contagious disease that emerged in the 21st century.
• SARS rapidly spread globally from its origin in China in late 2002, affecting over 30 countries.
• Understanding SARS pathogenesis is crucial for developing effective antiviral therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and summarize antiviral substances with demonstrated in vitro activity against SARS-CoV.
• To discuss the potential clinical applications of various antiviral agents based on their mechanisms of action.
• To explore the use of synthetic peptides, monoclonal antibodies, and established drugs for SARS treatment.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of antiviral substances targeting SARS-CoV replication steps.
• Categorization of antivirals based on their action against viral entry, replication, and protein processing.
• Discussion of in vitro efficacy and potential clinical utility of therapeutic candidates.

Main Results:

• Several antiviral substances exhibit in vitro activity against SARS-CoV.
• Synthetic peptides mimicking viral structures (S-binding domain, HR2 fusion protein, proteinase substrates) show promise.
• Established drugs like interferons and HIV proteinase inhibitors are considered for anti-SARS clinical use.

Conclusions:

• A range of antiviral agents are active against SARS-CoV in vitro.
• Synthetic peptides and repurposed drugs represent potential therapeutic strategies for severe acute respiratory syndrome.
• Further clinical investigation is warranted to establish the efficacy of these antiviral approaches.