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Veterinary Research May 2023Pseudorabies virus (PrV) can infect several animals and causes severe economic losses in the swine industry. Recently, human encephalitis or endophthalmitis caused by... (Review)
Review
Pseudorabies virus (PrV) can infect several animals and causes severe economic losses in the swine industry. Recently, human encephalitis or endophthalmitis caused by PrV infection has been frequently reported in China. Thus, PrV can infect animals and is becoming a potential threat to human health. Although vaccines and drugs are the main strategies to prevent and treat PrV outbreaks, there is no specific drug, and the emergence of new PrV variants has reduced the effectiveness of classical vaccines. Therefore, it is challenging to eradicate PrV. In the present review, the membrane fusion process of PrV entering target cells, which is conducive to revealing new therapeutic and vaccine strategies for PrV, is presented and discussed. The current and potential PrV pathways of infection in humans are analyzed, and it is hypothesized that PrV may become a zoonotic agent. The efficacy of chemically synthesized drugs for treating PrV infections in animals and humans is unsatisfactory. In contrast, multiple extracts of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) have shown anti-PRV activity, exerting its effects in different phases of the PrV life-cycle and suggesting that TCM compounds may have great potential against PrV. Overall, this review provides insights into developing effective anti-PrV drugs and emphasizes that human PrV infection should receive more attention.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Swine; Herpesvirus 1, Suid; Pseudorabies; Antiviral Agents; Membrane Fusion; Swine Diseases
PubMed: 37131259
DOI: 10.1186/s13567-023-01171-z -
Drug Design, Development and Therapy 2020Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is now a global outbreak of disease. The antiviral treatment... (Review)
Review
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is now a global outbreak of disease. The antiviral treatment acts as one of the most important means of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Alteration of physiological characteristics in special populations may lead to the change in drug pharmacokinetics, which may result in treatment failure or increased adverse drug reactions. Some potential drugs have shown antiviral effects on SARS-CoV-2 infections, such as chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, favipiravir, lopinavir/ritonavir, arbidol, interferon alpha, and remedsivir. Here, we reviewed the literature on clinical effects in COVID-19 patients of these antiviral agents and provided the potential antiviral agent options for pregnant women, elderly patients, liver or renal dysfunction patients, and severe or critically ill patients receiving renal replacement therapy or ECMO after SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Topics: Aged; Antiviral Agents; Betacoronavirus; COVID-19; Coronavirus Infections; Critical Illness; Female; Humans; Kidney Diseases; Liver Diseases; Pandemics; Pneumonia, Viral; Pregnancy; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19 Drug Treatment
PubMed: 32801640
DOI: 10.2147/DDDT.S259058 -
Drug Design, Development and Therapy 2021Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus clade 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an emerging pathogen, which is similar to previous SARS-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome... (Review)
Review
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus clade 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an emerging pathogen, which is similar to previous SARS-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) occurrences. However, we only get few understandings about the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2, which need to further be studied. The discovery of an agent that has a treatment efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 is very urgent. In this review, we briefly discuss the virology of this pathogen and focus on the available understanding of the pathogenesis and treatments of this pathogen including the uses of nucleoside analogues, protease inhibitors, interferons, and other small-molecule drugs, on the basis previous comprehensions of SARS and MERS. These reviewed concepts may be beneficial in providing new insights and potential treatments for COVID-19.
Topics: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2; Antiviral Agents; COVID-19; Coronavirus RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase; Humans; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19 Drug Treatment
PubMed: 33762818
DOI: 10.2147/DDDT.S293216 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jul 2023The goal of an antiviral agent research is to find an antiviral drug that reduces viral growth without harming healthy cells. Transformations of the virus, new viral... (Review)
Review
The goal of an antiviral agent research is to find an antiviral drug that reduces viral growth without harming healthy cells. Transformations of the virus, new viral strain developments, the resistance of viral pathogens, and side effects are the current challenges in terms of discovering antiviral drugs. The time has come and it is now essential to discover a natural antiviral agent that has the potential to destroy viruses without causing resistance or other unintended side effects. The pharmacological potency of thymoquinone (TQ) against different communicable and non-communicable diseases has been proven by various studies, and TQ is considered to be a safe antiviral substitute. Adjunctive immunomodulatory effects in addition to the antiviral potency of TQ makes it a major compound against viral infection through modulating the production of nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species, decreasing the cytokine storm, and inhibiting endothelial dysfunction. Nevertheless, TQ's low oral bioavailability, short half-life, poor water solubility, and conventional formulation are barriers to achieving its optimal pharmacologic benefits. Nano-formulation proposes numerous ways to overcome these obstacles through a small particle size, a big surface area, and a variety of surface modifications. Nano-based pharmaceutical innovations to combat viral infections using TQ are a promising approach to treating surmounting viral infections.
Topics: Antiviral Agents; Benzoquinones; Solubility; Particle Size
PubMed: 37513307
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28145435 -
Cardiovascular Revascularization... Nov 2022Ivermectin is an antiviral agent that has historically had a wide variety of uses. Recently, it has gained popularity in the mainstream media for use in treating and...
Ivermectin is an antiviral agent that has historically had a wide variety of uses. Recently, it has gained popularity in the mainstream media for use in treating and preventing COVID-19 infection, prompting high sales in veterinary grade Ivermectin. Studies are increasingly looking at Ivermectin as a possible agent for prevention and treatment of COVID-19, however further information is needed to assess efficacy and safety. Our project aimed to evaluate mortality differences in patients with COVID-19 infection who were prescribed Ivermectin vs. those not prescribed Ivermectin. Adult patients with active COVID-19 infection who were not prescribed Ivermectin (n = 797,285 Outpatient, n = 481,705 Inpatient, and n = 58,050 Intensive care unit), and those prescribed Ivermectin (n = 804 Outpatient, n = 1774 Inpatient, and n = 107 Intensive care unit) were evaluated. The cohorts were then evaluated for mortality comparing patients prescribed Ivermectin and those not prescribed Ivermectin in the Outpatient (7.7 % vs 2.2 %, P < 0.001), Inpatient not requiring Intensive Care (15.6 % vs 7.2 %, P ≤ 0.001), and Intensive care (20.6 % vs 19.6 %, P = 0.86) treatment settings.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Ivermectin; COVID-19; Antiviral Agents
PubMed: 35729025
DOI: 10.1016/j.carrev.2022.06.004 -
Indian Journal of Public Health Jun 2020A novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2) first emerged in December 2019 in Wuhan,... (Review)
Review
A novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2) first emerged in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, has become a global pandemic. Currently, the management of COVID-19 infection is mainly supportive. Several clinical trials worldwide are evaluating several drugs approved for other indications, as well as multiple investigational agents for the treatment and prevention of COVID-19. Here, we give a brief overview of pharmacological agents and other therapies which are under investigation as treatment options or adjunctive agents for patients infected with COVID-19 and for chemoprophylaxis for the prevention of COVID-19 infection. At the time of writing this commentary, there is no peer-reviewed published evidence from randomized clinical trials of any pharmacological agents improving outcomes in COVID-19 patients. However, it was reported that remdesivir an investigational antiviral agent hastens clinical recovery, but a study is yet to be published in peer-reviewed medical journal.
Topics: Antimalarials; Antiviral Agents; Betacoronavirus; COVID-19; Clinical Trials as Topic; Coronavirus; Coronavirus Infections; Humans; Immunization, Passive; Immunoglobulins; Interleukins; Pandemics; Pneumonia, Viral; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19 Serotherapy
PubMed: 32496239
DOI: 10.4103/ijph.IJPH_456_20 -
Journal of Natural Products Aug 2022Viral infections affect several million patients annually. Although hundreds of viruses are known to be pathogenic, only a few can be treated in the clinic with... (Review)
Review
Viral infections affect several million patients annually. Although hundreds of viruses are known to be pathogenic, only a few can be treated in the clinic with available antiviral drugs. Naturally based pharmacotherapy may be a proper alternative for treating viral diseases. Several natural and semisynthetic abietane-type diterpenoids have shown important antiviral activities. In this study, a biological evaluation of a number of either C-18- or C-19-functionalized known semisynthetic abietanes against , , 1, and are reported. Semisynthetic abietane ferruginol and its analogue 18-(phthalimid-2-yl)ferruginol displayed broad-spectrum antiviral properties. The scale-up synthesis of this analogue has been optimized for further studies and development. This molecule displayed an EC between 5.0 and 10.0 μM against Colombian Zika virus strains and EC = 9.8 μM against Chikungunya virus. Knowing that this ferruginol analogue is also active against 2 (EC = 1.4 μM, DENV-2), we can conclude that this compound is a promising broad-spectrum antiviral agent paving the way for the development of novel antivirals.
Topics: Abietanes; Antiviral Agents; Chikungunya virus; Humans; Virus Replication; Viruses; Zika Virus; Zika Virus Infection
PubMed: 35969814
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.2c00464 -
Antiviral Research Jul 2022In addition to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), SARS-CoV-2 has become the third... (Review)
Review
In addition to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), SARS-CoV-2 has become the third deadly coronavirus that infects humans and causes the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19). COVID-19 has already caused more than six million deaths worldwide and it is likely the biggest pandemic of this century faced by mankind. Although many studies on SARS-CoV-2 have been conducted, a detailed understanding of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 is still lacking. Animal models are indispensable for studying its pathogenesis and developing vaccines and antivirals. In this review, we analyze animal models of coronavirus infections and explore their applications on antivirals and vaccines.
Topics: Animals; Antiviral Agents; COVID-19; Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus; Models, Animal; SARS-CoV-2; Viral Vaccines; COVID-19 Drug Treatment
PubMed: 35605699
DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2022.105345 -
Pharmacology & Therapeutics May 2020Favipiravir has been developed as an anti-influenza drug and licensed as an anti-influenza drug in Japan. Additionally, favipiravir is being stockpiled for 2 million... (Review)
Review
Favipiravir has been developed as an anti-influenza drug and licensed as an anti-influenza drug in Japan. Additionally, favipiravir is being stockpiled for 2 million people as a countermeasure for novel influenza strains. This drug functions as a chain terminator at the site of incorporation of the viral RNA and reduces the viral load. Favipiravir cures all mice in a lethal influenza infection model, while oseltamivir fails to cure the animals. Thus, favipiravir contributes to curing animals with lethal infection. In addition to influenza, favipiravir has a broad spectrum of anti-RNA virus activities in vitro and efficacies in animal models with lethal RNA viruses and has been used for treatment of human infection with life-threatening Ebola virus, Lassa virus, rabies, and severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome. The best feature of favipiravir as an antiviral agent is the apparent lack of generation of favipiravir-resistant viruses. Favipiravir alone maintains its therapeutic efficacy from the first to the last patient in an influenza pandemic or an epidemic lethal RNA virus infection. Favipiravir is expected to be an important therapeutic agent for severe influenza, the next pandemic influenza strain, and other severe RNA virus infections for which standard treatments are not available.
Topics: Amides; Animals; Antiviral Agents; Humans; Influenza, Human; Pyrazines; RNA Virus Infections
PubMed: 32097670
DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2020.107512 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jan 2021Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a late-onset, intractable, and fatal viral disease caused by persistent infection of the central nervous system by a mutant... (Review)
Review
Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a late-onset, intractable, and fatal viral disease caused by persistent infection of the central nervous system by a mutant strain of the measles virus. Ribavirin intracerebroventricular therapy has already been administered to several SSPE patients in Japan based on fundamental and clinical research findings from our group, with positive therapeutic effects reported in some patients. However, the efficacy of this treatment approach has not been unequivocally established. Hence, development of more effective therapeutic methods using new antiviral agents is urgently needed. This review describes the current status of SSPE treatment and research, highlighting promising approaches to the development of more effective therapeutic methods.
Topics: Animals; Antiviral Agents; Drug Development; Humans; Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis
PubMed: 33467470
DOI: 10.3390/molecules26020427