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Updated: Dec 23, 2025
09:29
Early Viral Entry Assays for the Identification and Evaluation of Antiviral Compounds
Published on: October 29, 2015
30.7K
Chapter 12. Antiviral Agents.
1Wellcome Research Laboratories, Burroughs Wellcome Co. Research Triangle Park, NC 27709.
Annual Reports in Medicinal Chemistry
|April 28, 2020
Summary
Antiviral agents are crucial for combating RNA and DNA viruses, particularly respiratory pathogens like influenza. While amantadine treats influenza A, research is ongoing for broader-spectrum antivirals and improved treatments for viral infections.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Respiratory tract infections are common, caused by RNA viruses like Orthomyxoviridae (influenza) and Picornaviridae (rhinoviruses).
- Influenza A and B viruses cause significant mortality during epidemics, with symptoms ranging from mild to severe pneumonia.
- Current treatments include influenza A prophylaxis with amantadine, but there is a need for more effective antiviral agents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review antiviral agents targeting RNA viruses, with a focus on respiratory pathogens.
- To discuss the efficacy and limitations of existing antiviral drugs.
- To highlight ongoing research into novel antiviral strategies.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of antiviral agents and their mechanisms of action.
- Discussion of clinical applications and side effects of key antiviral drugs.
- Exploration of emerging strategies for broader-spectrum antiviral development.
Main Results:
- Amantadine and rimantadine are effective against influenza A but have CNS side effects.
- Acyclovir shows promise against DNA viruses, particularly herpesviruses, but optimal clinical use requires further study.
- Current antiviral agents often target viral nucleic acid synthesis and require virus-specific activation.
Conclusions:
- Development of effective antiviral agents against RNA viruses, especially for respiratory infections, remains a priority.
- Further research is needed to optimize the use of existing antivirals like acyclovir.
- Future efforts are focused on developing broader-spectrum antiviral agents with novel mechanisms of action.
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