Novel Treatment of Infant With COVID-19 With the Sialidase Fusion Protein, DAS181

Broad-spectrum antiviral strategy: Host-targeting antivirals against emerging and re-emerging viruses

Viral infections are amongst the most prevalent diseases that pose a significant threat to human health. Targeting viral proteins or host factors represents two primary strategies for the development of antiviral drugs. In contrast to virus-targeting antivirals (VTAs), host-targeting antivirals (HTAs) offer advantages in terms of overcoming drug resistance and effectively combating a wide range of viruses, including newly emerging ones. Therefore, targeting host factors emerges as an extremely promising strategy with the potential to address critical challenges faced by VTAs. In recent years, extensive research has been conducted on the discovery and development of HTAs, leading to the approval of maraviroc, a chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5) antagonist used for the treatment of HIV-1 infected individuals, with several other potential treatments in various stages of development for different viral infections. This review systematically summarizes advancements made in medicinal chemistry regarding various host targets and classifies them into four distinct catagories based on their involvement in the viral life cycle: virus attachment and entry, biosynthesis, nuclear import and export, and viral release.

Roles of Sialyl Glycans in HCoV-OC43, HCoV-HKU1, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 Infections

Ongoing seasonal HCoV-OC43 and HCoV-HKU1 (common cold), an ongoing zoonotic infection of highly lethal MERS-CoV in humans (MERS disease), and an ongoing pandemic SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) with high mutability giving some variants causing severe illness and death have been reported to attach to sialyl receptors via their spike (S) glycoproteins and via additional short spikes, hemagglutinin-esterase (HE) glycoproteins, for HCoV-OC43 and HCoV-HKU1. There is lack of zoonotic viruses that are origins of HCoV-HKU1 and the first recorded pandemic CoV (SARS-CoV-2) for studies. In this chapter, we review current knowledge of the roles of sialyl glycans in infections with these viruses in distinct infection stages. Determination of the similarities and differences in roles of sialyl glycans in infections with these viruses could lead to a better understanding of the pathogenesis and transmission that is essential for combating infections with CoVs that recognize sialyl glycans.