Abstract
Historically, vaccine strategies have proven to be most effective at eradicating the targeted virus infections. With the advent of new or re-emerging altered viruses, some of which jump species to infect humans, the threat of viral pandemics exists. The protracted time to develop a vaccine during a pandemic necessitates using antiviral drugs in the intervening months prior to vaccine availability. Antiviral drugs that are pathogen specific, for example Amantidine, Tamiflu® and Relenza®, targeted against influenza viruses, are associated with the emergence of virus strains that are drug resistant. The use of ribavirin, a more broad spectrum antiviral, in combination therapies directed against influenza and hepatitis C virus, has proven effective, albeit to a modest extent. Attention is focused on the potential use of interferons (IFN)-α/β as broad spectrum antivirals in acute infections, to invoke both direct antiviral effects against viruses and activation of specific immune effector cells.
Keywords: Influenza, HCV, pandemic, immunomodulatory, antiviral, interferon, drug resistance
Current Molecular Pharmacology
Title: Antiviral Strategies: The Present and Beyond
Volume: 2
Author(s): J. D. Burke and E. N. Fish
Affiliation:
Keywords: Influenza, HCV, pandemic, immunomodulatory, antiviral, interferon, drug resistance
Abstract: Historically, vaccine strategies have proven to be most effective at eradicating the targeted virus infections. With the advent of new or re-emerging altered viruses, some of which jump species to infect humans, the threat of viral pandemics exists. The protracted time to develop a vaccine during a pandemic necessitates using antiviral drugs in the intervening months prior to vaccine availability. Antiviral drugs that are pathogen specific, for example Amantidine, Tamiflu® and Relenza®, targeted against influenza viruses, are associated with the emergence of virus strains that are drug resistant. The use of ribavirin, a more broad spectrum antiviral, in combination therapies directed against influenza and hepatitis C virus, has proven effective, albeit to a modest extent. Attention is focused on the potential use of interferons (IFN)-α/β as broad spectrum antivirals in acute infections, to invoke both direct antiviral effects against viruses and activation of specific immune effector cells.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Burke D. J. and Fish N. E., Antiviral Strategies: The Present and Beyond, Current Molecular Pharmacology 2009; 2 (1) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1874467210902010032
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1874467210902010032 |
Print ISSN 1874-4672 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1874-4702 |
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Predicted SARS-CoV-2 miRNAs Associated with Epigenetic Viral Pathogenesis and the Detection of New Possible Drugs for Covid-19
Current Drug Delivery Genetically Modified Viruses Vaccines by Design
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Catatonia: A Brief Update
Current Psychiatry Reviews Perspectives in Genomics The Future of Fungi in ‘omics’ era
Current Genomics Onconeural Versus Paraneoplastic Antigens?
Current Medicinal Chemistry Inhibition of Membrane Fusion as a Target for Antiviral Therapy
Anti-Infective Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Nonstandard Drugs and Feasible New Interventions for Autoimmune Hepatitis: Part II
Inflammation & Allergy - Drug Targets (Discontinued) TRIM65 in White Matter Lesions, Innate Immunity, and Tumor
Current Molecular Pharmacology Novel Antiviral Strategies to Combat Human Arenavirus Infections
Current Molecular Medicine Amyloid-β Immunotherapy for Alzheimers Disease
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Antifungal Therapy Used in Central Nervous System Fungal Infections
Central Nervous System Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Host-Pathogen Interactions in Latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection: Identification of New Targets for Tuberculosis Intervention
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets DNA Microarrays - An Armory for Combating Infectious Diseases in the New Century
Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets Immune Therapy for Infectious Diseases at the Dawn of the 21st Century: the Past, Present and Future Role of Antibody Therapy, Therapeutic Vaccination and Biological Response Modifiers
Current Pharmaceutical Design Membrane Interacting Peptides: A Review
Current Protein & Peptide Science Harnessing Phage Display for the Discovery of Peptide-Based Drugs and Monoclonal Antibodies
Current Medicinal Chemistry HIV-1 Proteins, Tat and gp120, Target the Developing Dopamine System
Current HIV Research Role of CNS Transporters in the Pharmacotherapy of HIV-1 Associated Neurological Disorders
Current Pharmaceutical Design Current Clinical Applications of In Vivo Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Spectroscopic Imaging
Current Medical Imaging Defining and Regulating Acute Inflammatory Lesion Formation during the Pathogenesis of Multiple Sclerosis and Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets