Drug repurposing approaches to fight Dengue virus infection and related diseases

Front Biosci (Landmark Ed). 2018 Jan 1;23(6):997-1019. doi: 10.2741/4630.

Abstract

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral disease caused by four antigenically distinct serotypes of Dengue Virus (DENV), namely DENV1-4 and is currently considered the most important arthropod-born viral disease in the world. An effective antiviral therapy to treat Dengue Virus infection is still missing and a number of replicative cycle inhibitors are currently under study. Considering the rapid spreading of DENV and the common timeframe required for bringing a new drug on the market, the repurposing of approved drugs used for different diseases to identify novel inhibitors of this pathogen represents an attractive approach for a rapid therapeutic intervention. Herein, we will describe the most recent drug repurposing approaches to fight DENV infection and their implications in antiviral drug-discovery.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Dengue / drug therapy*
  • Dengue / virology
  • Dengue Virus / drug effects*
  • Dengue Virus / physiology
  • Drug Discovery / methods
  • Drug Repositioning / methods*
  • Humans
  • Virus Replication / drug effects

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents