New treatments for influenza

Abstract

Influenza has a long history of causing morbidity and mortality in the human population through routine seasonal spread and global pandemics. The high mutation rate of the RNA genome of the influenza virus, combined with assortment of its multiple genomic segments, promote antigenic diversity and new subtypes, allowing the virus to evade vaccines and become resistant to antiviral drugs. There is thus a continuing need for new anti-influenza therapy using novel targets and creative strategies. In this review, we summarize prospective future therapeutic regimens based on recent molecular and genomic discoveries.

Kolaviron Improves Morbidity and Suppresses Mortality by Mitigating Oxido-Inflammation in BALB/c Mice Infected with Influenza Virus

“…Evidences also abound that evolving pandemic strains outsmart the annually predicted vaccine that depends solely on informed and educated guesses from the prevailing isolates and circulating strains, thus necessitating a new antiviral bullet (5,29). The effectiveness of current approaches to treatment and prevention of influenza have also been limited by factors such as the prevalence of the adamantane-resistant influenza viruses, the prohibitive cost of available drugs especially in resource-poor countries, the unpredictability of vaccine availability, and the time lag between vaccine development (25,48).…”

“…The effectiveness of current approaches to treatment and prevention of influenza have also been limited by factors such as the prevalence of the adamantane-resistant influenza viruses, the prohibitive cost of available drugs especially in resource-poor countries, the unpredictability of vaccine availability, and the time lag between vaccine development (25,48). Thus, a recent paradigm shift includes the search and quest for antiviral, redox regulator and/or anti-inflammatory strategies that could either solely emerge as new antiinfluenza or adjunct therapy combined with the existing arsenal to reduce the severity and complications of influenza infections (1,5,14,18,(45)(46)(47)(48). Data from a number of studies suggest that the use of oxygen free radicals as targets may provide an approach to the amelioration of the pathogenicity caused by influenza virus infections (15,47), and several studies have reported the anti-influenza activity of medicinally potent and disease-preventing plant polyphenols and flavonoids with antioxidant properties (9,17,24,42,47,48).…”

Treatment of Influenza: Prospects of Post-Transcriptional Gene Silencing Through Synthetic siRNAs

“…However, their low tolerance for anti-influenza drugs puts a limit on their use of these drugs. 43 This could become a serious problem if not adequately managed.…”

“…87 Moreover, because the design algorithms for siRNA-based agents are nearly identical for any pathogen, synthetic and mass production processes for all siRNAs are the same, and their efficiency of production is better. 43 …”

“…38, 39 For instance, resistance to oseltamivir and zanamivir has been attributed to mutations in the NA and HA genes. [40][41][42][43] In addition, although most viral mutations are either lethal or highly detrimental to the virus, influenza viruses have been found to have considerable mutational robustness, with mutations in genomic segments 4 (HA) and 6 (NA) appearing to be less arduously accommodated than elsewhere in the genome. 37,39 This relative ease of accumulation of mutations in the HA and NA genes may allow the virus to escape from the host's specific immunity and sensitivity to available drugs.…”