Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 2, 2026

High-throughput Antiviral Assays to Screen for Inhibitors of Zika Virus Replication
10:16

High-throughput Antiviral Assays to Screen for Inhibitors of Zika Virus Replication

Published on: October 30, 2021

4.2K

Pediatric Drug Nitazoxanide: A Potential Choice for Control of Zika

Rui-Yuan Cao1, Yong-Fen Xu1, Tian-Hong Zhang1

  • 1Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, China.

Open Forum Infectious Diseases
|May 9, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Nitazoxanide, an approved drug safe for children, shows potential against Zika virus (ZIKV) infection. This repurposed medication may combat ZIKV by interfering with viral entry into cells.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Drug Discovery

Background:

  • Zika virus (ZIKV) infection poses significant health risks, including congenital malformations like microcephaly and neurological disorders in adults.
  • Currently, no specific antiviral drugs are approved for treating ZIKV infections, necessitating urgent therapeutic solutions.
  • Drug repurposing offers a rapid strategy for identifying effective treatments during public health emergencies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify an existing, safe drug that can be repurposed for the treatment of Zika virus infection.
  • To evaluate the anti-ZIKV potential of nitazoxanide and its metabolite, tizoxanide.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro assessment of nitazoxanide and tizoxanide against ZIKV.
  • Investigation of the mechanism of antiviral action.

Main Results:

  • Nitazoxanide and its active metabolite, tizoxanide, demonstrated antiviral activity against ZIKV in laboratory studies.
  • The antiviral effect appears to be mediated by targeting the virus's postattachment phase.

Conclusions:

  • Nitazoxanide, a US FDA-approved drug safe for pediatric use, exhibits promising anti-ZIKV properties.
  • This repurposed drug represents a potential therapeutic option for Zika virus infections, possibly by inhibiting viral entry.

Keywords:
Zika virus.antiviraldrug repurposingnitazoxanide

More Related Videos

Cell-Based Electrical Impedance Platform to Evaluate Zika Virus Inhibitors in Real Time05:49

Cell-Based Electrical Impedance Platform to Evaluate Zika Virus Inhibitors in Real Time

Published on: March 24, 2023

1.3K
Zika Virus Infectious Cell Culture System and the In Vitro Prophylactic Effect of Interferons09:11

Zika Virus Infectious Cell Culture System and the In Vitro Prophylactic Effect of Interferons

Published on: August 23, 2016

21.5K

Related Concept Videos

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
340
Drug Dosing: Infants and Children01:29

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children

Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...
457
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
411
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight,...
388
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses...
293
Impact of Pharmacokinetic–Pharmacodynamic Models: Regulatory Decisions01:15

Impact of Pharmacokinetic–Pharmacodynamic Models: Regulatory Decisions

PK–PD modeling has significantly influenced FDA regulatory decisions, particularly drug approval, dosage optimization, and labeling. These models integrate pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) to predict drug behavior and effects, aiding in optimizing dosing regimens and enhancing the probability of clinical trial success.One notable example is Nesiritide (Natrecor®), a recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide for treating acute decompensated congestive heart failure...
55