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Updated: Aug 15, 2025
12:02
Assays for the Identification of Novel Antivirals against Bluetongue Virus
Published on: October 11, 2013
14.1K
Therapeutics for flaviviral infections
Amanda Makha Bifani1, Kitti Wing Ki Chan1, Doortje Borrenberghs2
1Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, 169857, Singapore.
Antiviral Research
|January 2, 2023
Summary
Flaviviruses like Zika and Dengue cause severe diseases. This review explores new therapeutic targets and compounds to combat these emerging viral threats.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Infectious Diseases
- Drug Discovery
Background:
- Flaviviruses, including Dengue and Zika, pose significant global health threats due to their vector-borne transmission and potential for severe disease.
- Recent outbreaks highlight the urgent need for effective treatments, as current interventions primarily rely on vector control and supportive care.
- Limited vaccine availability and a lack of approved antivirals underscore the critical gap in flavivirus therapeutics.
Approach:
- This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current landscape of flavivirus therapeutics.
- It focuses on identifying key viral targets amenable to therapeutic intervention.
- The review examines promising novel compounds progressing through the drug discovery pipeline and discusses relevant model systems for evaluating drug efficacy.
Key Points:
- Emerging evidence suggests genetic mutations can enhance flavivirus transmission and pathogenesis, increasing outbreak potential.
- Dengue virus alone affects approximately 400 million people annually, causing recurrent epidemics.
- The development of effective antivirals is crucial, given the limitations of current public health strategies.
Conclusions:
- A broad examination of the flavivirus therapeutic landscape is essential for preparedness.
- Identifying novel antiviral compounds and understanding their efficacy through robust model systems are key priorities.
- Targeting specific viral mechanisms offers a promising avenue for developing new treatments against flavivirus infections.
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