Drug Targets in Infections with Other Emerging Viruses: Influenza Viruses, Metapneumovirus and Hantaviruses

Donato      Torre; Agostino      Pugliese

Abstract

Among emergent and re-emergent viral infections, influenza, hemorrhagic fevers, including hantaviruses, constitute one of the major threats to human beings. Advances in immunopathogenesis of these viral infections have improved initial supportive treatments and led to recognition and adoption of several useful antiviral agents. This review focuses on therapeutic and preventive aspects of these viral infections, and evaluates old and new promising agents are in the pipeline of pharmaceutical companies, and finally addresses therapeutic aspects in the treatment of these viral pathogens. However, it should be stressed that only prevention based in particular on research and development of new vaccines may be able in future to control and eventually eradicate these deadly viral pathogens.

Keywords: Influenza virus, human H5N1 virus, metapneumovirus, hantavirus, vaccines, influenza pandemic, antiviral treatment