Antivirals: Past, Present and Future

Abstract

The uses of antiviral agents are increasing in the new era along with the development of vaccines for the effective control of viral diseases. The main aims of antiviral agents are to minimize harm to the host system and eradicate deadly viral diseases. However, the replications of viruses in host system represent a massive therapeutic challenge than bacteria and fungi. Antiviral drugs not just penetrate to disrupt the virus' cellular divisions but also have a negative impact on normal physiological pathways in the host. Due to these issues, antiviral agents have a narrow therapeutic index than antibacterial drugs. Nephrotoxicity is the main adverse reaction of antiviral drugs in human and animals. In this chapter, we summarize the antiviral agents' past, present and future perspectives with the main focus on the brief history of antiviral in animals, miscellaneous drugs, natural products, herbal and repurposing drugs.

SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with serious mental illness and possible benefits of prophylaxis with Memantine and Amantadine

“…Memantine is in pre-approval stage with FDA for the use in the infection with Zika virus due to the capacity to reduce neuronal apoptosis, demonstrated in vitro and in mouse model [ 32 ]. This mechanism can improve the viral induced neurological symptomatology through neurotoxicity and microgliosis mechanisms [ 33 , 34 ]. In studies on mice, Memantine reduced the intraocular pressure induced by Zika virus and significantly prevented the neurodegeneration and microgliosis processes [ 35 ].…”

Nanotechnology-based antiviral therapeutics

“…(vi) Many viral infections remain in the latent stage for a prolonged period and their diagnosis and treatment poses challenges [35]. (vii) Selectivity of antiviral agents toward the virus over the host cell and identification of the target which is unique to virus life cycle is another challenge in their development [36]. (viii) Each virus is unique in its structure and function making the development of a broad-spectrum antiviral agent difficult [37].…”

Metal Nanoparticles against Viruses: Possibilities to Fight SARS-CoV-2

“…Viral RNA is replicated and nucleocapsid (N) structural protein is synthesized in the cytoplasm, and S protein, membrane (M) and envelope (E) are transcribed/translated in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and transported to the Golgi. Viral components are packed and assembly in a mature virion structure that is then released [4,24].…”

“…The malleable optical absorption spectra of metallic nanoparticles due to surface plasmon resonance is a huge advantage of using nanometals in bioconjugation, which is important when it comes to antiviral nanocarriers or drug stabilization [2]. Because its composition table is an important factor for the understanding of its antiviral action, this review will approach metal nanocomposites because they can activate production of hosts reactive oxygen species (ROS) through the ion release, a strategy well studied for antibacterial purposes [3,4].…”