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Porcine Corneal Tissue Explant to Study the Efficacy of Herpes Simplex Virus-1 Antivirals
Published on: September 20, 2021
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[Herpes simplex virus resistance to antivirals]
Sonia Burrel1, Dimitrios Topalis2, David Boutolleau1
1Centre national de référence (CNR) Herpèsvirus (laboratoire associé), Service de Virologie, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, AP-HP 83 boulevard de l'hôpital, 75652 Paris cedex 13. Sorbonne Université, Paris, France, Sorbonne Université, Inserm U1136, Institut Pierre-Louis d'épidémiologie et de santé publique (iPLESP), Paris, France.
Virologie (Montrouge, France)
|October 28, 2020
Summary
Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections pose risks for immunocompromised patients. Antiviral resistance in HSV can complicate treatment, necessitating new therapeutic strategies for managing these challenging viral infections.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections are a significant cause of illness in immunocompromised individuals, including transplant recipients and those with HIV.
- Limited antiviral options (acyclovir, foscarnet, cidofovir) exist for HSV treatment.
- Prolonged antiviral use in immunocompromised patients can lead to drug resistance, complicating management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the challenges of managing HSV infections in immunocompromised patients.
- To discuss the mechanisms and prevalence of antiviral resistance in HSV.
- To highlight the limitations of current antiviral therapies and explore future directions.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on HSV infections, antiviral treatments, and resistance mechanisms.
- Analysis of genotypic and phenotypic methods for detecting HSV antiviral resistance.
- Examination of prevalence data for acyclovir resistance in different patient populations.
Main Results:
- HSV antiviral resistance is a growing concern, particularly in immunocompromised patients.
- Acyclovir resistance prevalence is low in immunocompetent individuals but higher (3.5-11%) in immunocompromised populations.
- Current antivirals have limitations including adverse effects and failure to eradicate latent virus.
Conclusions:
- Antiviral resistance in HSV presents a significant clinical challenge, especially for immunocompromised patients.
- Development of new antiviral compounds and identification of novel viral targets are crucial for expanding treatment options.
- Effective management requires ongoing research into novel therapeutic strategies to overcome resistance and improve patient outcomes.
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