As the virus evolves, so too must we: a drug developer’s perspective
Abstract The SARS-CoV-2 virus has been raging globally for over 2 years with no end in sight. It has become clear that this virus possesses enormous genetic plasticity, and it will not be eradicated. Under increasing selective pressure from population immunity, the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 has driven...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Virology Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12985-022-01887-y |
| _version_ | 1798029965478854656 |
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| author | Fang Flora Fang |
| author_facet | Fang Flora Fang |
| author_sort | Fang Flora Fang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The SARS-CoV-2 virus has been raging globally for over 2 years with no end in sight. It has become clear that this virus possesses enormous genetic plasticity, and it will not be eradicated. Under increasing selective pressure from population immunity, the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 has driven it towards greater infectivity, and evasion of humoral and cellular immunity. Omicron and its expanding army of subvariants and recombinants have impaired vaccine protection and made most antibody drugs obsolete. Antiviral drugs, though presently effective, may select for more resistant strains over time. It may be inevitable, then, that future SARS-CoV-2 variants will be immune to our current virus-directed countermeasures. Thus, to gain control over the virus, we need to adopt a new paradigm in searching for next-generation countermeasures and develop host-directed therapeutics (HDTx) and host-directed antivirals (HDA). Different from the virus-directed countermeasures, HDTx and HDA may offer variant agnostic treatment to reduce the risk and severity of infections. In addition, they may exert more uniform effects against the genetically diverse SARS-CoV-2 quasispecies, thereby diminishing the risk of selecting resistant variants. Some promising HDTx and HDA approaches are summarized here. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T19:33:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-31e865f56fbf41a39c24171f43fa0e77 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1743-422X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T19:33:56Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Virology Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-31e865f56fbf41a39c24171f43fa0e772022-12-22T04:06:56ZengBMCVirology Journal1743-422X2022-10-011911510.1186/s12985-022-01887-yAs the virus evolves, so too must we: a drug developer’s perspectiveFang Flora Fang0Abimmune Biopharma, Inc.Abstract The SARS-CoV-2 virus has been raging globally for over 2 years with no end in sight. It has become clear that this virus possesses enormous genetic plasticity, and it will not be eradicated. Under increasing selective pressure from population immunity, the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 has driven it towards greater infectivity, and evasion of humoral and cellular immunity. Omicron and its expanding army of subvariants and recombinants have impaired vaccine protection and made most antibody drugs obsolete. Antiviral drugs, though presently effective, may select for more resistant strains over time. It may be inevitable, then, that future SARS-CoV-2 variants will be immune to our current virus-directed countermeasures. Thus, to gain control over the virus, we need to adopt a new paradigm in searching for next-generation countermeasures and develop host-directed therapeutics (HDTx) and host-directed antivirals (HDA). Different from the virus-directed countermeasures, HDTx and HDA may offer variant agnostic treatment to reduce the risk and severity of infections. In addition, they may exert more uniform effects against the genetically diverse SARS-CoV-2 quasispecies, thereby diminishing the risk of selecting resistant variants. Some promising HDTx and HDA approaches are summarized here.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12985-022-01887-yCOVID19SARS-CoV-2Host-directed therapeuticsHDTxHost-directed antiviralHAD |
| spellingShingle | Fang Flora Fang As the virus evolves, so too must we: a drug developer’s perspective Virology Journal COVID19 SARS-CoV-2 Host-directed therapeutics HDTx Host-directed antiviral HAD |
| title | As the virus evolves, so too must we: a drug developer’s perspective |
| title_full | As the virus evolves, so too must we: a drug developer’s perspective |
| title_fullStr | As the virus evolves, so too must we: a drug developer’s perspective |
| title_full_unstemmed | As the virus evolves, so too must we: a drug developer’s perspective |
| title_short | As the virus evolves, so too must we: a drug developer’s perspective |
| title_sort | as the virus evolves so too must we a drug developer s perspective |
| topic | COVID19 SARS-CoV-2 Host-directed therapeutics HDTx Host-directed antiviral HAD |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12985-022-01887-y |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT fangflorafang asthevirusevolvessotoomustweadrugdevelopersperspective |