Exploring kinase inhibitors as therapies for human arenavirus infections.
Arenaviruses are rodent-borne RNA viruses, and some have the capacity to cause hemorrhagic fever and death in infected individuals and thus have been identified as a potential bioterrorism threat. Ribavirin and supportive care are currently the approved therapeutic options for individuals suffering from arenavirus-induced hemorrhagic fever. However, new research has suggested that immune plasma treatment or kinase inhibitors may provide a therapeutic option for treating arenavirus infections in humans. This article puts forth a perspective as to the potential use of kinase inhibitors as an antiviral therapeutic for arenavirus infections.
Battelle Biomedical Research Center (BBRC), 505 King Avenue, JM8-1-096, Columbus, OH 43201-2693, USA Tel.: +1 614 424 7998; ;  velae@battelle.org.
Eric M
EM
Vela
Gavin C
GC
Bowick
Norbert K
NK
Herzog
Judith F
JF
Aronson