title: The future of antivirals: broad-spectrum inhibitors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Potent antivirals are successfully used for the treatment of infections with herpesviruses, hepatitis B and C viruses, HIV, and with some success for influenza viruses. However, no selective inhibitors are available for a multitude of medically important viruses, most of which are (re-)emerging RNA viruses. As it is impossible to develop drugs against each of these viruses, broad-spectrum antiviral agents (BSAA) are a prime strategy to cope with this challenge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We propose four categories of antiviral molecules that hold promise as BSAA. Several nucleoside analogues with broad antiviral activity have been described and given the relatively conserved nature of viral polymerases, it may be possible to develop more broad-spectrum nucleoside analogues. A number of viral proteins are relatively conserved between families and may also be interesting targets. Host-targeting antiviral drugs such as modulators of lipid metabolism and cyclophilin inhibitors can be explored as well. Finally, the potent and broad antiviral function of the immune system can be exploited by the development of immune-modulating BSAA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the recent advances, the BSAA field is still in its infancy. Nevertheless, the discovery and development of such molecules will be a key aim of antiviral research in the coming decades.
authors.affiliation: Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Yannick
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Debing
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Neyts
authors.forename: Leen
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Delang
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D055808:Drug Discovery / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D009705:Nucleosides / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012328:RNA Viruses / Q000187:drug effects*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000187:drug effects*; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D053586:Virus Internalization / Q000187:drug effects; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D009705:Nucleosides; D014764:Viral Proteins; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases