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Antiviral Nucleoside Inhibitors

Antiviral Nucleoside Inhibitors

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Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis

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Protein synthesis is indispensable for viral replication, as viruses lack the cellular machinery required for this process and must hijack the host's translational apparatus. In response, host cells deploy a critical innate immune defense involving interferons, specialized cytokines that play a central role in inhibiting viral propagation.Upon viral detection, infected cells release interferons that bind to receptors on adjacent uninfected cells, activating the JAK-STAT signaling pathway and...

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Retroviruses have a single-stranded RNA genome that undergoes a special form of replication. Once the retrovirus has entered the host cell, an enzyme called reverse transcriptase synthesizes double-stranded DNA from the retroviral RNA genome. This DNA copy of the genome is then integrated into the host’s genome inside the nucleus via an enzyme called integrase. Consequently, the retroviral genome is transcribed into RNA whenever the host’s genome is transcribed, allowing the retrovirus to...

Inhibitors Of Virion Release

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Viral replication and dissemination rely on efficient mechanisms for host cell entry, genome replication, assembly, and release. Influenza viruses, such as types A and B, are negative-sense single-stranded RNA viruses with a segmented genome, that depend on two critical surface glycoproteins to carry out these processes: hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). HA initiates infection by binding to sialic acid residues on the surface of host epithelial cells, facilitating receptor-mediated...

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Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Early Viral Entry Assays for the Identification and Evaluation of Antiviral Compounds

Early Viral Entry Assays for the Identification and Evaluation of Antiviral Compounds

Published on: October 29, 2015

Antiviral strategies.

B Müller¹, Hans-Georg Kräusslich

¹Department of Virology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 324, Heidelberg, D-69120, Germany. Barbara_Mueller@med.uni-heidelberg.de

Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology

|December 3, 2008

Summary

Developing antivirals targeting viral replication is challenging due to host cell dependency. Despite progress, antiviral resistance remains a significant hurdle in treating viral infections like HIV and hepatitis.

Area of Science:

Virology
Infectious Diseases
Drug Development

Background:

Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites, relying on host cell machinery for replication, complicating the development of targeted antiviral therapies.
Significant advancements in antiviral drug development over 50 years have focused on viruses causing chronic infections, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and hepatitis B virus (HBV).

Purpose of the Study:

To review the progress and current strategies in antiviral therapy development.
To highlight challenges and novel approaches in combating viral infections.

Main Methods:

Review of historical and current antiviral drug development strategies.
Analysis of therapeutic targets, including viral enzymes, entry/release mechanisms, host factors, innate immunity, and gene silencing.

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Use of Viral Entry Assays and Molecular Docking Analysis for the Identification of Antiviral Candidates against Coxsackievirus A16

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Last Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Early Viral Entry Assays for the Identification and Evaluation of Antiviral Compounds

Early Viral Entry Assays for the Identification and Evaluation of Antiviral Compounds

Published on: October 29, 2015

High-throughput Screening for Broad-spectrum Chemical Inhibitors of RNA Viruses

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Published on: May 5, 2014

Use of Viral Entry Assays and Molecular Docking Analysis for the Identification of Antiviral Candidates against Coxsackievirus A16

Use of Viral Entry Assays and Molecular Docking Analysis for the Identification of Antiviral Candidates against Coxsackievirus A16

Published on: July 15, 2019

Examination of challenges such as antiviral resistance.

Main Results:

Antiviral therapies have evolved from targeting viral enzymes to inhibiting virus entry and release.
Rational drug design based on viral protein structure and host-virus interactions has proven successful.
Novel strategies targeting host factors and innate immunity are under investigation.

Conclusions:

Effective virostatics targeting various viral replication steps are available for treating major viral diseases.
Antiviral resistance is a central and persistent problem limiting the efficacy of current antiviral therapies.
Continued research into novel strategies is crucial for overcoming treatment limitations and improving patient outcomes.