Current and Promising Antivirals Against Chikungunya Virus

Friederike I L Hucke; Joachim J Bugert

doi:10.3389/fpubh.2020.618624

Current and Promising Antivirals Against Chikungunya Virus

Front Public Health. 2020 Dec 15:8:618624. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.618624. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Friederike I L Hucke¹, Joachim J Bugert¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Virology, Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Munich, Germany.

Abstract

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is the causative agent of chikungunya fever (CHIKF) and is categorized as a(n) (re)emerging arbovirus. CHIKV has repeatedly been responsible for outbreaks that caused serious economic and public health problems in the affected countries. To date, no vaccine or specific antiviral therapies are available. This review gives a summary on current antivirals that have been investigated as potential therapeutics against CHIKF. The mode of action as well as possible compound targets (viral and host targets) are being addressed. This review hopes to provide critical information on the in vitro efficacies of various compounds and might help researchers in their considerations for future experiments.

Keywords: CHIKV therapy; antiviral design; comparison of in vitro efficacies; direct antiviral action; favipiravir; host-targeting antiviral; ribavirin.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Antiviral Agents / pharmacology
Chikungunya Fever* / drug therapy
Chikungunya virus*
Dermatologic Agents* / therapeutic use
Humans

Substances

Antiviral Agents
Dermatologic Agents