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Functional Imaging of Viral Transcription Factories Using 3D Fluorescence Microscopy
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Published on: January 18, 2018

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KSHV-specific antivirals targeting the protein-DNA interaction of the latency-associated nuclear antigen

Aylin Berwanger1,2,3, Martin Empting1,2,3

  • 1Department of Drug Design & Optimization (DDOP), Helmholtz-Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) - Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Campus E8.1, Saarbrücken, 66123, Germany.

Future Medicinal Chemistry
|May 26, 2021
PubMed

Insights

No specific antiviral drugs exist for Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). This review explores targeting the latency-associated nuclear antigen (LANA) to develop novel KSHV-specific antiviral therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Oncology
  • Drug Discovery

Background:

  • Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is an oncogenic human herpesvirus linked to cancers, particularly in immunocompromised individuals like AIDS patients.
  • Currently, no KSHV-specific antiviral agents are available, highlighting a critical unmet medical need.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review target-centered approaches for novel anti-KSHV drug development.
  • To focus on strategies interfering with the molecular functions of the latency-associated nuclear antigen (LANA).

Main Methods:

  • Exploration of drug discovery approaches targeting the LANA-DNA interaction.
  • Focus on the C-terminal domain of LANA for therapeutic intervention.

Main Results:

  • Identification of molecular structures through innovative drug discovery concepts.
  • Development of a strategy for novel, KSHV-specific antiherpesviral agents.

Conclusions:

  • Interfering with LANA-DNA interactions presents a promising avenue for KSHV-specific drug development.
  • This approach offers a novel concept for creating effective antiherpesviral therapies.
Keywords:
KSHVLANAantiherpesviral agentslatent infectionprotein–DNA interactionsviral persistence

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