Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets (Formerly Current Drug Targets - Infectious Disorders) - Volume 11, Issue 3, 2011

Human encephalitis is a complex neurological syndrome constituting a challenging public health problem. This severe disease, defined as the combination of an inflammation of the brain parenchyma and neurological dysfunction, is associated with high rates of mortality and morbidity. Several causes of encephalitis have been identified, but infectious agents remain the most common. These agents include various micro Read More

Encephalitis is an inflammatory process involving the parenchyma of the brain. It typically presents as a clinical syndrome characterised by fever, headache and altered conscious level, often with focal neurological deficits and fits. The clinical presentation overlaps with other diseases of the central nervous system including viral and bacterial meningitis, and brain abscess. The causes of encephalitis are legion, and include pri Read More

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is the cause of herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE), a devastating human disease which occurs in 2-4 cases per million/year. HSE results either from a primary infection or virus reactivation, in accordance with the common pattern of HSV infection which is a chronic lifelong process. However its pathophysiology remains largely unknown and its poor prognosis is in contrast with the usually goo Read More

Rabies remains one of the most ancient and deadly of human infectious diseases. This viral zoonosis is transmitted principally by the saliva of infected dogs, inducing a form of encephalomyelitis that is almost invariably fatal. Since the first implementation, by Louis Pasteur in 1885, of an efficient preventive post-exposure treatment, more effective protocols and safer products have been developed, providing almost 100% Read More

Chemotherapy in Japanese encephalitis (JE) is at present entirely supportive and not targeted at the virus. There are no available drugs to effectively counter the viral infection, thereby making the fight against JE a daunting task. With approximately 50,000 reported cases per year, nearly 10,000 deaths and 3 billion people living in endemic regions, it is imperative that the hunt for an effective drug be expedited. Pro Read More

The Paramyxoviridae family comprises of several genera that contain emerging or re-emerging threats for human and animal health with no real specific effective treatment available. Hendra and Nipah virus are members of a newly identified genus of emerging paramyxoviruses, Henipavirus. Since their discovery in the 1990s, henipaviruses outbreaks have been associated with high economic and public health threat potential. Read More

Enteroviruses (EVs) are common and significant human pathogens in Asia. EV infections can cause a wide spectrum of acute diseases, including CNS complications. These EV infection-related CNS syndromes include acute flaccid paralysis, aseptic meningitis, encephalitis, and even death. Currently, there is no vaccine available for most EVs except for poliovirus; furthermore, there is a lack of clinical antiviral drugs for treati Read More