title: New developments in flavivirus drug discovery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Flaviviruses are major causes of infectious disease. The vast global, social and economic impact due to morbidity and mortality associated with diseases caused by these viruses urgently demands effective therapeutic interventions. There is currently no specific antiviral therapy available for the effective clinical treatment of infections by any of the flaviviridae. Development of more effective vaccines and antiviral agents for the prevention and treatment of most flavivirus infections remains a clear public health priority in the 21st century.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review describes some of the recent discoveries in the field of flavivirus inhibitor development, with a particular focus on targeting viral proteins. Emphasis is placed on the advances published during the 2012-2015 period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The field of drug discovery targeting viral proteins has progressed slowly in recent years. New information, particularly on structures, location and mechanisms of action of established protein targets have been reported. There have also been studies on repurposing known drugs as templates for targeting flavivirus proteins and these hits could be promising templates for developing new more potent inhibitors. Further research should be conducted to improve in vitro assays that better reflect the conditions found in cellular environments.
authors.affiliation: a Division of Chemistry and Structural Biology, Institute for Molecular Bioscience , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , Australia.
authors.forename: W Mei
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Kok
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055808:Drug Discovery; D005416:Flavivirus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity; D018177:Flavivirus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D014764:Viral Proteins
keywords: Antiviral; dengue; flavivirus; inhibitor; nucleoside; peptide; small molecule