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Antiviral Nucleoside Inhibitors

Antiviral Nucleoside Inhibitors

Antiviral Nucleoside InhibitorsAntiviral nucleoside inhibitors are structural analogs of natural nucleosides that interfere with viral DNA or RNA synthesis. These compounds selectively target viral polymerases due to their resemblance to host nucleosides, thereby disrupting viral genome replication.Mechanism of Acyclovir ActionAcyclovir is a guanosine analog with a three-carbon acyclic side chain. It selectively targets herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2),...

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...

Retrovirus Life Cycles

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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

Inhibitors Of Virion Release

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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Subviral Agents

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 30, 2026

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

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

Published on: May 5, 2014

Broad-spectrum antiviral therapeutics.

Todd H Rider¹, Christina E Zook, Tara L Boettcher

¹Lincoln Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Lexington, Massachusetts, United States of America. thor@LL.MIT.EDU

|August 6, 2011

Summary

A new broad-spectrum antiviral, Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) Activated Caspase Oligomerizer (DRACO), rapidly kills virus-infected cells by inducing apoptosis. DRACO is non-toxic and effective against 15 viruses, showing potential as a therapeutic for numerous viral infections.

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Last Updated: May 30, 2026

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

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Published on: May 5, 2014

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

Assays for the Identification of Novel Antivirals against Bluetongue Virus

Assays for the Identification of Novel Antivirals against Bluetongue Virus

Published on: October 11, 2013

Area of Science:

Virology
Immunology
Drug Discovery

Background:

Limited availability of broad-spectrum antiviral therapeutics.
Existing antivirals are often pathogen-specific or have significant drawbacks.
Need for novel approaches to combat diverse viral infections.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop and evaluate a novel broad-spectrum antiviral strategy.
To assess the efficacy and safety of the Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) Activated Caspase Oligomerizer (DRACO) system.
To explore DRACO's potential as a therapeutic or prophylactic agent against a wide range of viruses.

Main Methods:

Development of DRACO, a molecule that links dsRNA detection to caspase activation.
Testing DRACO's non-toxicity across 11 mammalian cell types.
Evaluating DRACO's efficacy against 15 different viruses in vitro.
Assessing DRACO's therapeutic effect in a mouse model challenged with H1N1 influenza.

Main Results:

DRACO selectively induces apoptosis in cells containing viral dsRNA, leading to rapid elimination of infected cells.
DRACO demonstrated no toxicity in 11 tested mammalian cell types.
DRACO showed efficacy against 15 diverse viruses, including dengue, arenaviruses, bunyavirus, and influenza.
DRACO administration successfully rescued mice infected with H1N1 influenza.

Conclusions:

DRACO represents a promising new broad-spectrum antiviral approach.
The system's ability to induce apoptosis in dsRNA-containing cells offers a novel mechanism for viral clearance.
DRACO's demonstrated safety and broad efficacy suggest significant potential for treating and preventing numerous viral diseases.