Abstract
Respiratory viruses continue to afflict mankind. Among them, pathogens such as coronaviruses [including the current pandemic agent known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)] and the one causing influenza A (IAV) are highly contagious and deadly. These can evade the immune system defenses while causing a hyperinflammatory response that can damage different tissues/organs. Simultaneously targeting several immunomodulatory proteins is a plausible antiviral strategy since it could lead to the discovery of indirect-acting pan-antiviral (IAPA) agents for the treatment of diseases caused by respiratory viruses. In this context, computational approaches, which are an essential part of the modern drug discovery campaigns, could accelerate the identification of multi-target immunomodulators. This perspective discusses the usefulness of computational multi-target drug discovery for the virtual screening (drug repurposing) of IAPA agents capable of boosting the immune system through the activation of the toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) and/or the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) while inhibiting key inflammation-related proteins such as caspase-1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α).
Keywords: Antiviral, Caspase-1, Coronaviruses, Indirect-acting pan-antiviral, Influenza, Multi-target, PTML, STING, TLR7, TNF-α.
Graphical Abstract
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Chemistry Based on Natural Products for Therapeutic Purposes
The development of new pharmaceuticals for a wide range of medical conditions has long relied on the identification of promising natural products (NPs). There are over sixty percent of cancer, infectious illness, and CNS disease medications that include an NP pharmacophore, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Since NP ...read more
Current Trends in Drug Discovery Based on Artificial Intelligence and Computer-Aided Drug Design
Drug development discovery has faced several challenges over the years. In fact, the evolution of classical approaches to modern methods using computational methods, or Computer-Aided Drug Design (CADD), has shown promising and essential results in any drug discovery campaign. Among these methods, molecular docking is one of the most notable ...read more
Drug Discovery in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
In the age of artificial intelligence (AI), we have witnessed a significant boom in AI techniques for drug discovery. AI techniques are increasingly integrated and accelerating the drug discovery process. These developments have not only attracted the attention of academia and industry but also raised important questions regarding the selection ...read more
From Biodiversity to Chemical Diversity: Focus of Flavonoids
Flavonoids are the largest group of polyphenols, plant secondary metabolites arising from the essential aromatic amino acid phenylalanine (or more rarely from tyrosine) via the phenylpropanoid pathway. The flavan nucleus is the basic 15-carbon skeleton of flavonoids (C6-C3-C6), which consists of two phenyl rings (A and B) and a heterocyclic ...read more
Related Journals
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry
Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry
Current Bioactive Compounds
Current Cancer Drug Targets
Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening
Current Cancer Therapy Reviews
Current Diabetes Reviews
Current Drug Safety
Current Drug Targets
Current Drug Therapy
Related Books
Drug Addiction Mechanisms in the Brain
The NLRP3 Inflammasome: An Attentive Arbiter of Inflammatory Response
Botanicals and Natural Bioactives: Prevention and Treatment of Diseases
Software and Programming Tools in Pharmaceutical Research
Objective Pharmaceutics: A Comprehensive Compilation of Questions and Answers for Pharmaceutics Exam Prep
Medicinal Chemistry of Drugs Affecting Cardiovascular and Endocrine Systems
Frontiers In Medicinal Chemistry
Advanced Pharmacy
Plant-derived Hepatoprotective Drugs
Frontiers in Natural Product Chemistry
29
