title: Antivirals and antiviral strategies.
abstract: In recent years, the demand for new antiviral strategies has increased markedly. There are many contributing factors to this increased demand, including the ever-increasing prevalence of chronic viral infections such as HIV and hepatitis B and C, and the emergence of new viruses such as the SARS coronavirus. The potential danger of haemorrhagic fever viruses and eradicated viruses such as variola virus being used as bioterrorist weapons has also increased the profile of antiviral drug discovery. Here, the virus infections for which antiviral therapy is needed and the compounds that are available, or are being developed, for the treatment of these infections are described.
authors.affiliation: Rega Institute for Medical Research, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. erik.declercq@rega.kuleuven.ac.be
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Clercq
mesh_terms: D043383:Adenosylhomocysteinase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004265:DNA Helicases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D006801:Humans; D007168:IMP Dehydrogenase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019384:Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors; D043583:Nucleoside-Triphosphatase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014780:Viruses / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D019384:Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors; D014764:Viral Proteins; D007372:Interferons; D007168:IMP Dehydrogenase; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase; D043383:Adenosylhomocysteinase; D043583:Nucleoside-Triphosphatase; D004265:DNA Helicases