Zika virus entry inhibitors.

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Drug Discovery
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Viral entry is crucial for infection, involving complex host-virus interactions.
• Developing inhibitors targeting viral entry, particularly for viruses like Zika virus (ZIKV), lags behind replication inhibitors.
• ZIKV, a neglected flavivirus, currently lacks effective therapeutic options.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the research progress of viral entry inhibitors for Zika virus (ZIKV).
• To categorize ZIKV entry inhibitors based on the three major stages of the viral entry process.
• To explore diverse chemotypes of small molecular entry inhibitors and their therapeutic potential.

Main Methods:

• Classified review of ZIKV entry inhibitors based on the viral entry stages.
• Inclusion of inhibitors acting on virus entry via time-of-addition experiments.
• Overview of diverse small molecular chemotypes targeting viral entry.

Main Results:

• Identified diverse chemotypes of small molecular entry inhibitors for ZIKV.
• Highlighted inhibitors acting on virus entry, including those with preliminary mechanism characterization.
• Presented a structured review of inhibitors targeting the three major stages of viral entry.

Conclusions:

• Viral entry inhibitors represent a promising therapeutic strategy for ZIKV and other enveloped RNA viruses.
• Further research into ZIKV entry inhibitors can lead to effective antiviral therapies.
• This review aims to stimulate interest in ZIKV research and the potential of entry inhibitors.