Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Highly pathogenic coronaviruses (CoVs), such as severe acute respiratory syndrome CoV (SARS-CoV), Middle East respiratory syndrome CoV (MERS-CoV), and the most recent SARS-CoV-2 responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, pose significant threats to human populations over the past two decades. These CoVs have caused a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations ranging from asymptomatic to severe distress syndromes (ARDS), resulting in high morbidity and mortality. AREAS COVERED: The accelerated advancements in antiviral drug discovery, spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, have shed new light on the imperative to develop treatments effective against a broad spectrum of CoVs. This perspective discusses strategies and lessons learnt in targeting viral non-structural proteins, structural proteins, drug repurposing, and combinational approaches for the development of antivirals against CoVs. EXPERT OPINION: Drawing lessons from the pandemic, it becomes evident that the absence of efficient broad-spectrum antiviral drugs increases the vulnerability of public health systems to the potential onslaught by highly pathogenic CoVs. The rapid and sustained spread of novel CoVs can have devastating consequences without effective and specifically targeted treatments. Prioritizing the effective development of broad-spectrum antivirals is imperative for bolstering the resilience of public health systems and mitigating the potential impact of future highly pathogenic CoVs.
Source: Expert Opinion on Drug Discovery
Language: English
Subfield: Infectious Diseases
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Awards: G1343545418, G1648414555, Discovery of therapeutics against Cryptococcosis by Repurposing Pharmaceutical Libraries, G2296403712, G3385146688, G3394837639, Acquisition of a MicroCal PEAQ-ITC Automated, G6558408408, High throughput screening of orthosteric inhibitors of flavivirus protease, G7483541272, UTMB-Novartis Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness, G7915155410, High throughput screening of the Prp8 intein splicing inhibitors for pathogenic fungi, G9000006208
OpenAlex ID: W4401123749