Discovery of novel targets for antivirals: learning from flies.

Date publication

octobre 2016

Journal

Current opinion in virology

Auteurs

Membres identifiés du Cancéropôle Est :
Pr IMLER Jean-Luc , Dr MEIGNIN Carine

Tous les auteurs :
Martins N, Imler JL, Meignin C

Lien Pubmed

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27657660

Résumé

Developing antiviral drugs is challenging due to the small number of targets in viruses, and the rapid evolution of viral genes. Animals have evolved a number of efficient antiviral defence mechanisms, which can serve as a source of inspiration for novel therapies. The genetically tractable insect Drosophila belongs to the most diverse group of animals. Genetic and transcriptomic analyses have recently identified Drosophila genes encoding viral restriction factors. Some of them represent evolutionary novelties and their characterization may provide hints for the design of directly acting antivirals. In addition, functional screens revealed conserved host factors required for efficient viral translation, such as the ribosomal protein RACK1 and the release factor Pelo. These proteins are promising candidates for host-targeted antivirals.

Mots clés

Animals, Antiviral Agents, isolation & purification, Drosophila, immunology, Drug Discovery, methods, Host-Pathogen Interactions, Immunity, Innate, Viruses, immunology

Référence

Curr Opin Virol. 2016 10;20:64-70