Antiviral drug discovery: Pyrimidine entry inhibitors for Zika and dengue viruses.

Vector-borne diseases, constituting over 17 % of infectious diseases, are caused by parasites, viruses, and bacteria, and their prevalence is shaped by environmental and social factors. Dengue virus (DENV) and Zika virus (ZIKV), some of the most prevalent infectious agents of this type of diseases, are transmitted by mosquitoes belonging to the genus Aedes. The highest prevalence is observed in tropical regions, inhabited by around 3 billion people.

Discovery of a Potent and Selective Chikungunya Virus Envelope Protein Inhibitor through Computer-Aided Drug Design.

The worldwide expansion of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) into tropical and subtropical areas in the last 15 years has posed a currently unmet need for vaccines and therapeutics. The E2-E1 envelope glycoprotein complex binds receptors on the host cell and promotes membrane fusion during CHIKV entry, thus constituting an attractive target for the development of antiviral drugs. In order to identify CHIKV antivirals acting through inhibition of the envelope glycoprotein complex function, our first approach was to search for amenable druggable sites within the E2-E1 heterodimer.

Design and Optimization of Quinazoline Derivatives: New Non-nucleoside Inhibitors of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus.

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) belongs to the genus (). In spite of the availability of vaccines, the virus is still causing substantial financial losses to the livestock industry. In this context, the use of antiviral agents could be an alternative strategy to control and reduce viral infections.