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Using Zebrafish Models of Human Influenza A Virus Infections to Screen Antiviral Drugs and Characterize Host Immune Cell Responses
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Using Zebrafish Models of Human Influenza A Virus Infections to Screen Antiviral Drugs and Characterize Host Immune Cell Responses

Published on: January 20, 2017

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Current and novel antiviral strategies for influenza infection

Hui-Ling Yen1

  • 1School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Current Opinion in Virology
|June 27, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Influenza antivirals face challenges from resistant strains. New drugs targeting viral polymerase and nucleoprotein, alongside combination therapies, offer promising future treatments for influenza infections.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Influenza A and B viruses cause significant respiratory illness in all age groups.
  • Current antivirals (M2 blockers, NA inhibitors) face challenges due to emergent resistant strains and variable effectiveness.
  • Clinical outcomes range from mild illness to severe pneumonia and death.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current challenges in influenza antiviral therapy.
  • To highlight emerging antiviral strategies targeting novel viral components.
  • To discuss the potential of combination therapies for improved outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing and developing influenza antiviral agents.
  • Analysis of viral and host factors influencing disease severity.
  • Exploration of novel drug targets including viral polymerase, nucleoprotein, and endonuclease domains.

Main Results:

  • Favipiravir, an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase inhibitor, is approved in Japan for resistant influenza strains.
  • Development of novel small molecule inhibitors targeting nucleoprotein (NP) oligomerization, PA endonuclease, and PB2 cap-binding domains is ongoing.
  • Combination therapy with antivirals or immune modulators shows potential clinical benefit.

Conclusions:

  • Emergence of antiviral resistance necessitates the development of new influenza therapeutics.
  • Targeting novel viral components like NP and polymerase offers promising avenues for drug development.
  • Combination strategies may enhance treatment efficacy and overcome resistance.

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