Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 3, 2025

09:29
Early Viral Entry Assays for the Identification and Evaluation of Antiviral Compounds
Published on: October 29, 2015
30.4K
Nucleosides and emerging viruses: A new story
Vincent Roy1, Luigi A Agrofoglio1
1ICOA, University of Orléans, CNRS UMR 7311, Rue de Chartres, 45067 Orléans, France.
Drug Discovery Today
|February 21, 2022
Summary
New ribonucleoside analogs show promise as antiviral drugs targeting viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). These compounds are crucial for developing new therapies against emerging RNA viruses lacking vaccines or treatments.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Medicinal Chemistry
Background:
- Nucleoside and nucleotide analogs are key antiviral therapies for herpesviruses, HIV, and hepatitis viruses.
- Emerging RNA viruses, unlike SARS-CoV-2, currently lack vaccines and effective small antiviral drugs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of recently developed ribonucleoside analogs.
- To highlight their role as inhibitors of viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp).
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent advancements in ribonucleoside analog development.
- Analysis of structure-activity relationships for RdRp inhibition.
Main Results:
- Several novel ribonucleoside analogs have been identified.
- These analogs demonstrate inhibitory activity against viral RdRp.
Conclusions:
- Developed ribonucleoside analogs represent promising lead structures for new antiviral drug discovery.
- These compounds offer potential therapeutic strategies against emerging RNA viruses.
Related Concept Videos
Viruses with RNA Genomes
187
RNA viruses are categorized into positive-strand, negative-strand, or double-stranded groups based on their genomic structure and replication mechanisms. This classification dictates how they exploit host cellular machinery for protein synthesis and replication. Some RNA viruses also utilize reverse transcription as part of their life cycle, further diversifying their replication strategies.Positive-Strand RNA VirusesPositive-strand RNA viruses have genomes that function directly as messenger...
187
Size and Structure of Viral Genomes
190
Viral genomes exhibit remarkable diversity in size, structure, and composition, influencing their replication strategies and interactions with host cells. These genomes consist of either DNA or RNA and may be linear or circular. Additionally, they can be single-stranded or double-stranded, with each configuration affecting how the virus propagates within a host. RNA viruses, for instance, generally have smaller genomes than DNA viruses, a factor that contributes to their high mutation rates and...
190
Introduction to Virus
321
Viruses are unique biological entities that blur the boundary between living and non-living systems. Although they lack cellular structure and metabolic processes, they can exhibit characteristics of life when infecting a host. Their defining feature is a nucleic acid core, composed of either DNA or RNA, encapsulated within a protein coat called a capsid. This simple structure allows them to invade host cells and use their machinery for replication efficiently.Viral Structure and...
321
Viral Mutations
34.2K
A mutation is a change in the sequence of bases of DNA or RNA in a genome. Some mutations occur during replication of the genome due to errors made by the polymerase enzymes that replicate DNA or RNA. Unlike DNA polymerase, RNA polymerase is prone to errors because it is not capable of “proofreading” its work. Viruses with RNA-based genomes, like HIV, therefore accrue mutations faster than viruses with DNA-based genomes. Because mutation and recombination provide the raw material...
34.2K
Subviral Agents
157
Subviral agents are infectious entities that resemble viruses but lack one or more viral components, such as a capsid or essential replication machinery. These agents include viroids, prions, and satellites, each possessing distinct structural and functional characteristics that influence their mode of infection and replication.Viroids are the simplest subviral agents, consisting of circular, single-stranded RNA molecules without a protein coat. They exclusively infect plants, relying entirely...
157
Retrovirus Life Cycles
47.3K
Retroviruses have a single-stranded RNA genome that undergoes a special form of replication. Once the retrovirus has entered the host cell, an enzyme called reverse transcriptase synthesizes double-stranded DNA from the retroviral RNA genome. This DNA copy of the genome is then integrated into the host’s genome inside the nucleus via an enzyme called integrase. Consequently, the retroviral genome is transcribed into RNA whenever the host’s genome is transcribed, allowing the...
47.3K

