Antiviral therapy: current concepts and practices.

Andes-Virus-Induced Cytokine Storm is Partially Suppressed by Ribavirin

“…Ribavirin (1-b-D-ribofuranosyl-1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxamide) is a synthetic nucleotide analogue [1] that has a broad spectrum of antiviral activity [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. Various mechanisms of action were suggested to explain antiviral activity, including enzyme suppression [10][11][12][13][14][15] and the 'error catastrophe' effect in which a lethal accumulation of minor mutations leads to a stop in viral replication [16,17]. Although highly effective in vitro, ribavirin's therapeutic efficacy remains controversial and even conflicting clinical results are often seen with the same viral infection, such as with hantavirus [18,19].…”

Mode of action of SDZ NIM 811, a nonimmunosuppressive cyclosporin A analog with activity against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1): interference with early and late events in HIV-1 replication

“…The human immunodeficiency viruses, human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and HIV-2, cause AIDS, which leads to a progressive destruction of the immune system with a prominent loss of circulating CD4 ϩ cells (2,14,33). A variety of drugs which interfere with the viral replication cycle has been evaluated, including both nucleoside and nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors and protease inhibitors (3). The rapid development of resistance and the cytotoxicity of the chemical compounds, together with inefficient immune responses to heterologous virus in vaccination trials, are at present the major drawbacks in the fight against AIDS.…”