Current Medicinal Chemistry - Anti-Infective Agents - Volume 4, Issue 1, 2005

A large number of chemical enteties, immunogens and topical medications, either synthetic or naturally occuring, against HIV have been brought into focus to combat AIDS epidemic. The three major classes of anti-HIV medications, leading to the development of synthetic drugs worldwide, belong to NRTs, NNRTIs and protease inhibitors. These have been discussed in detail with regard to HIV infected patients. A large numbe Read More

Highly active antiretroviral therapy regimens (usually three-drug combinations) have shown undisputable efficacy in the reduction of the morbidity and mortality of HIV-infected patients. However, these regimens are only virustatic, which means that, in order to suppress viral replication, treatments should be maintained for life, without any additional benefit over time once immune restauration has been obtained. Beside Read More

Among the antiviral agents developed for the treatment of human viral infections, nucleoside analogs represent the largest group. However, much remains to do to improve their pharmacokinetic properties, to increase their efficacy, to reduce the selection of drug-resistent strains and to reduce their toxic side effects. Towards this end many nucleotide dimers have been synthesized in the last years in several laboratories. Read More

Food proteins have been considered till recently as substances that provide the organism with essential amino acids necessary for the maintenance of life. In more recent times it has been shown in a convincing manner that they are able to deliver the organism with several bioactive peptides including those possessing antiviral activity. A food protein, lactoferrin, has been shown to inhibit the human immunodeficiency virus, he Read More

RSV is the main viral respiratory cause of hospitalization in infants and young children in the United States and in the world. This manuscript discusses the different established and experimental approaches to prevention and treatment of respiratory syncytial virus disease. Therapeutic and preventive strategies are examined considering the mechanisms of viral pathogenesis and protection.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most important bacterial cause of pneumonia and meningitis among adults. It is also a common cause of bacteraemia among HIV infected adults with rates of disease approaching 100 times normal community incidence figures. Rates of antibiotic resistance are rising among pneumococcal isolates globally and the currently available 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine Read More