Antiviral therapeutics

The development of nucleic acid-based therapeutics is not as straightforward as researchers had initially anticipated. Stability, toxicity, specificity, and delivery of the compounds continue to be challenging issues that need further optimization. In recent years, researchers have come up with intricate solutions that have greatly improved the efficacy of potential antisense, ribozyme, as well as RNAi-based therapeutics. Clinical trials for all these types of nucleic acid-based therapeutics are underway. So far, data from several trials and studies in animal models look promising, in particular, the therapies that trigger the RNAi pathway. However, history has shown that compounds that do well in phase I or phase II clinical trials may still fail in phase III. A striking example is the nonspecific suppression of angiogenesis by siRNA via toII-Iike receptor 3 (Kleinman et al. 2008). It will become clear in the near future which compounds will make it as a new class of antiviral therapeutics. 

Wliy is HSV-1 induced encephalitis (HSE) difficult to treat with antiviral therapeutic di ugs ... 

A totally different approach to the design of antiviral therapeutics is the use of antisense oligonucleotides. Here, the mechanistic target for intervention is... 

In an attempt to develop additional antiviral therapeutic strategies, De Francesco and colleagues have found that HIV-1 pl7 matrix protein greatly increased HIV-1 replication in preactivated peripheral blood mononuclear ceU cultures obtained firom healthy donors. In their studies they have discovered that p 17 exerts its biological activity after binding to a specific cellular receptor expressed on activated T-enhancing levels of TNFa and IFNy released from cells stimulated by IL-2. IL-4 was found to down regulate IFNy and TNFa, and pl7 restored the ability of cells to produce... 

Huggins JW, Robertson M, Kefauver D, Laughlin C, Knight JC, Esposito JJ. 1996. Potential Antiviral Therapeutics for Smallpox and Other Poxvirus Infections (abstract). Presented at the XI Poxvirus and Iridovirus Meeting,... 

Huggins JW, Marteniz MJ, Zaucha GM, Jahrling PB, Smee D, Bray, M. 1998. The DNA Polymerase Inhibitor Cidofovir (HPMC, Vistide) is a Potential Antiviral Therapeutic Agent for the Treatment Of Monkeypox And Other Orthopox Virus Infections. Presented at the XII International Poxvirus Symposium, St Thomas, VI, June 6-10. 

Mackman RL, Cihlar T (2004) Prodrug strategies in the design of nucleoside and nucleotide antiviral therapeutics. Ann Rep Med Chein 39 305-321... 

Boric acid. HPLC was used for the analysis of ribose, arabinose and ribulose mixtures obtained from chemical and biochemical isomerization processes (22). These processes have gained importance since the molecules can be used for the synthesis of antiviral therapeutics. 

Rossi JJ, Sarver N (1990) RNA enzymes (ribozymes) as antiviral therapeutic agents. Tiraids Biotechnol 8 179-183... 

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