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Updated: May 3, 2026
Assays for the Identification of Novel Antivirals against Bluetongue Virus
Published on: October 11, 2013
Exploring the Antiviral Potential of Natural Compounds against Influenza: A Combined Computational and Experimental
Vladimir Perovic1, Kristina Stevanovic1, Natalya Bukreyeva2,3
1Laboratory for Bioinformatics and Computational Chemistry, Institute of Nuclear Sciences VINCA, University of Belgrade, 11001 Belgrade, Serbia.
Abstract:
The influenza A virus nonstructural protein 1 (NS1), which is crucial for viral replication and immune evasion, has been identified as a significant drug target with substantial potential to contribute to the fight against influenza. The emergence of drug-resistant influenza A virus strains highlights the urgent need for novel therapeutics. This study proposes a combined theoretical criterion for the virtual screening of molecular libraries to identify candidate NS1 inhibitors. By applying the criterion to the ZINC Natural Product database, followed by ligand-based virtual screening and molecular docking, we proposed the most promising candidate as a potential NS1 inhibitor. Subsequently, the selected natural compound was experimentally evaluated, revealing measurable virus replication inhibition activity in cell culture. This approach offers a promising avenue for developing novel anti-influenza agents targeting the NS1 protein.
