title: [Anti alpha-herpesvirus drugs].
abstract: Therapy for infectious diseases resulting from alpha-herpesvirus infections has been dramatically improved by the development of acyclovir (ACV). ACV is highly specific against herpes simplex virus type 1(HSV-1), herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) as ACV is specifically phosphorylated by the thymidine kinases (TKs) of these viruses. These viral TKs are important enzymes for viral replication in vivo; therefore, the growth of TK-deficient mutants is impaired. ACV-resistant viruses are rarely isolated from immunocompetent patients but are frequently obtained from immunocompromised patients. Recently, other anti alpha-herpesvirus drugs, such as valacyclovir and famciclovir, have become available for use in Japan, but the need to develop new antiherpetic compounds with different mechanisms of action remains.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Tetsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Koshizuka
authors.forename: Tatsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suzutani
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000188:drug therapy; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents