Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets (Formerly Current Drug Targets - Infectious Disorders) - Volume 9, Issue 2, 2009

This special issue of the international journal ‘Infectious disorders - Drug targets’ brings together some of the most famous scientific researchers and clinicians worldwide, who have made major contributions and discoveries in their respective fields of virology. With eleven review articles, the special issue is a real gem covering the latest state of knowledge for each type of pathogenic viruses. Interestingly, it not only deals with Read More

Chikungunya virus is a typical emerging virus which has been responsible for several million cases of human infections since 2004. No antiviral treatment is currently available. The antimalarial chloroquine has been used in the past but recent studies suggest that it is not or poorly active in vivo. A number of tracks are currently under investigation (inhibition of viral enzymes, of virus entry or maturation, enhancement of im Read More

Hepatitis B virus infection (HBV) is a significant global health problem. Despite the success of universal hepatitis B vaccination in many countries, more than 350 million individuals worldwide are chronically infected and 15- 40% of those will develop cirrhosis and/or hepatocellular carcinoma if left untreated. Available therapies for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection are effective at decreasing viremia and improving measured cli Read More

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) and Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) are Herpesviridae. Although infections are often subclinical, HSV can cause mild to severe diseases, especially in immunocompromised patients. EBV infections are also often asymptomatic but this virus may be associated to carcinoma in immunocompetent patients and to severe diseases in immunocompromised patients. These viruses establish latency, in neuronal cells f Read More

Human Rhinoviruses (HRV) are by far the most common respiratory viruses responsible for most cases of the common cold and important pathogens in acute exacerbations of asthma and COPD. The molecular pathogenesis of HRV infection is quite completely understood. However there is still no approved specific treatment against HRV infections. The aim of this article is therefore to give an overview of the principl Read More

The Flaviviridae family comprises the genus Flavivirus, Hepacivirus and Pestivirus. These viruses are responsible for considerable human and animal disease and mortality worldwide. Flaviviruses cause a range of acute febrile illnesses along with encephalitic or haemorrhagic diseases. Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the most important hepacivirus human disease and remains a global health threat with nearly 200 mil Read More

Among emergent and re-emergent viral infections, influenza, hemorrhagic fevers, including hantaviruses, constitute one of the major threats to human beings. Advances in immunopathogenesis of these viral infections have improved initial supportive treatments and led to recognition and adoption of several useful antiviral agents. This review focuses on therapeutic and preventive aspects of these viral infections, and evalu Read More

Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1), the first known human retrovirus, induces various human diseases with a long latency period. The mechanism by which the virus causes diseases is still unknown. Studies indicate that viral replication is important at least for the development of HTLV-1 associated myelopathy, and therefore treatments based on our knowledge of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) can Read More

HIV-1 drug regimens now offer more potent, less toxic and more durable choices. However, strategies addressing convenient sequential use of active antiretroviral combinations are rarely presented in the literature. Studies have seldom directly addressed this issue, despite it being a matter of daily use in clinical practice. This is, in part, because of the complexity of HIV-1 resistance information. Nevertheless, several principle Read More

The development of antiviral drugs for Ebola and Marburg viruses has been slow. To date, beyond supportive care, no effective treatments, prophylactic measures, therapies, or vaccines are approved to treat or prevent filovirus infections. In this review, we examine the current treatments available to administer care for filovirus infection, the potential therapeutic targets that can be used for filovirus drug develo Read More

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infections are usually benign and self-limiting in the immunocompetent population; however, HCMV is a well-recognized problem among immunocompromised patients (in particular immunosuppressed patients with stem cell or solid organ transplantation, AIDS, or cancer). In this group of patients, HCMV infections are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Additionally, congenital HC Read More

Coronaviruses are important human and animal pathogens of the order Nidovirales. Several new members were discovered following the emergence of SARS-CoV in human populations, including two human coronaviruses and several animal coronaviruses. They cause respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses and have been found in the brains of patients with multiple sclerosis. The high mortality of SARS, the identificati Read More