A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Novel activities of safe-in-human broad-spectrum antiviral agents
Authors: Aleksandr Ianevski, Eva Zusinaite, Suvi Kuivanen, Mårten Strand, Hilde Lysvand, Mona Teppor, Laura Kakkola, Henrik Paavilainen, Mira Laajala, Hannimari Kallio-Kokko, Miia Valkonen, Anu Kantele, Kaidi Telling, Irja Lutsar, Pille Letjuka, Natalja Metelitsa, Valentyn Oksenych, Magnar Bjørås, Svein Arne Nordbø, Uga Dumpis, Astra Vitkauskiene, Christina Öhrmalm, Kåre Bondeson, Anders Bergqvist, Tero Aittokallio, Rebecca J. Cox, Magnus Evander, Veijo Hukkanen, Varpu Marjomaki, Ilkka Julkunen, Olli Vapalahti, Tanel Tenson, Andres Merits, Denis Kainov
Publisher: Elsevier B.V.
Publication year: 2018
Journal: Antiviral Research
Journal name in source: Antiviral Research
Volume: 154
First page : 174
Last page: 182
Number of pages: 9
ISSN: 0166-3542
eISSN: 1872-9096
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.antiviral.2018.04.016
According to the WHO, there is an urgent need for better control of viral diseases. Re-positioning existing safe-in-human antiviral agents from one viral disease to another could play a pivotal role in this process. Here, we reviewed all approved, investigational and experimental antiviral agents, which are safe in man, and identified 59 compounds that target at least three viral diseases. We tested 55 of these compounds against eight different RNA and DNA viruses. We found novel activities for dalbavancin against echovirus 1, ezetimibe against human immunodeficiency virus 1 and Zika virus, as well as azacitidine, cyclosporine, minocycline, oritavancin and ritonavir against Rift valley fever virus. Thus, the spectrum of antiviral activities of existing antiviral agents could be expanded towards other viral diseases.
