Mechanism of Action of Antiviral Drugs

Mechanism of Action of Antiviral Drugs

Recently, many antiviral drugs have been developed against viruses that are associated with high morbidity and mortality in humans. These viruses provide potential targets dur-ing the cycle of replication for action by antiviral drugs. The viral infection may be inhibited at the level of (i) attachment, (ii ) penetration and uncoating, (iii ) transcription of viral nucleic acid, (iv ) translation of viral mRNA, (v ) protein synthe-sis, (vi ) replication of viral DNA (vii ) nucleoside biosynthesis and nucleoside scavenging, and (viii ) assembly and release of viral progeny. Mechanisms of action of antiviral agents against the possible targets are summarized in Table 52-1.