Advancements in Antiviral Drug Development: Comprehensive Insights into Design Strategies and Mechanisms Targeting Key Viral Proteins
Wang Hangyu, Panpan Li, Jie Shen, Hongyan Wang, Wei Linmiao, Han Kangning, Shi Yichen, Shuai Wang, Cheng Wang
Abstract
Antiviral Drug Development StrategiesThe development of antiviral drugs typically falls into two major categories.The first approach employs broadspectrum antiviral strategies, such as utilizing Type I interferons to target the host cell Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) pathway.This promotes the expression of various antiviral proteins such as interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) in the host cells to inhibit viral infection.Alternatively, a more targeted approach can be taken that directly interferes with critical stages in the viral life cycle to inhibit viral replication.This involves the use of drugs that combine and inhibit the viral polymerases, proteases, and capsid proteins introduced in this paper.Antiviral drug development may either repurpose existing medications or explore novel compounds.Theoretically, targeting pivotal proteins or intrinsic nucleic acids involved in the viral replication cycle can effectively inhibit viral replication [6].Viral infectious diseases have always been a threat to human survival and quality of life, impeding the stability and progress of human society.As such, researchers have persistently focused on developing highly efficient, low-toxicity antiviral drugs, whether for acute or chronic infectious diseases.This article presents a comprehensive review of the design concepts behind virus-targeted drugs, examined through the lens of antiviral drug mechanisms.The intention is to provide a reference for the development of new, virus-targeted antiviral drugs and guide their clinical usage.