Viral proteinases--possible targets of antiviral drugs
Maliar, T.; Baláz, S.; Tandlich, R.; Sturdík, E.
Acta Virologica 46(3): 131-140
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-723X PMID: 12580374 Document Number: 544567
Viral infections represent various types of human, veterinary and plant diseases with a significant economic, ethic and demographic impact. Over the years a significant effort has been made to develop various means of prevention and therapy of viral diseases. Proteinases play an important role in the process of virus replication as well as in the pathophysiology of many viral diseases. The aim of this review is to assess the prospects of the application of proteinase inhibitors in antiviral therapy and to characterize viral proteinases of various classes. Six Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) proteinase inhibitors have been approved for therapeutic use and can serve as examples of prospective application ofproteinase inhibitors to antiviral therapy.