title: Discovery of novel targets for antivirals: learning from flies.
abstract: Developing antiviral drugs is challenging due to the small number of targets in viruses, and the rapid evolution of viral genes. Animals have evolved a number of efficient antiviral defence mechanisms, which can serve as a source of inspiration for novel therapies. The genetically tractable insect Drosophila belongs to the most diverse group of animals. Genetic and transcriptomic analyses have recently identified Drosophila genes encoding viral restriction factors. Some of them represent evolutionary novelties and their characterization may provide hints for the design of directly acting antivirals. In addition, functional screens revealed conserved host factors required for efficient viral translation, such as the ribosomal protein RACK1 and the release factor Pelo. These proteins are promising candidates for host-targeted antivirals.
authors.affiliation: CNRS UPR9022, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Nelson
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: CNRS UPR9022, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France; Faculté des Sciences de la Vie, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Imler
authors.affiliation: CNRS UPR9022, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France; Faculté des Sciences de la Vie, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France. Electronic address: c.meignin@unistra.fr.
authors.forename: Carine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meignin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004330:Drosophila / Q000276:immunology*; D055808:Drug Discovery / Q000379:methods*; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D014780:Viruses / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents