Therapeutic targets in respiratory viral infections

Respiratory viral infections account for a substantial proportion of morbidity world wide and contribute notably to the socio-economic burden of diseases. Amongst the most important viruses identified so far are Rhinoviruses, Influenza A and Respiratory Syncytial Virus. The knowledge base has broadened at the clinical and experimental level in recent years. However, therapeutic options are still limited. This may be partly due to the multiplicity of infectious mechanisms and the complex underlying host/virus interactions. The aim of this article is to give an overview of the different respiratory viruses involved, their major principles of infection and the associated therapeutic targets and to review up-to-date virus-specific clinical trials.