Structural Virology: The Key Determinants in Development of Antiviral Therapeutics
Structural virology has emerged as the foundation for the development of effective antiviral therapeutics. It is pivotal in providing crucial insights into the three-dimensional frame of viruses and viral proteins at atomic-level or near-atomic-level resolution. Structure-based assessment of viral c...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Viruses |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/3/417 |
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| author | Tanuj Handa Ankita Saha Aarthi Narayanan Elsa Ronzier Pravindra Kumar Jitin Singla Shailly Tomar |
| author_facet | Tanuj Handa Ankita Saha Aarthi Narayanan Elsa Ronzier Pravindra Kumar Jitin Singla Shailly Tomar |
| author_sort | Tanuj Handa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Structural virology has emerged as the foundation for the development of effective antiviral therapeutics. It is pivotal in providing crucial insights into the three-dimensional frame of viruses and viral proteins at atomic-level or near-atomic-level resolution. Structure-based assessment of viral components, including capsids, envelope proteins, replication machinery, and host interaction interfaces, is instrumental in unraveling the multiplex mechanisms of viral infection, replication, and pathogenesis. The structural elucidation of viral enzymes, including proteases, polymerases, and integrases, has been essential in combating viruses like HIV-1 and HIV-2, SARS-CoV-2, and influenza. Techniques including X-ray crystallography, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy, Cryo-electron Microscopy, and Cryo-electron Tomography have revolutionized the field of virology and significantly aided in the discovery of antiviral therapeutics. The ubiquity of chronic viral infections, along with the emergence and reemergence of new viral threats necessitate the development of novel antiviral strategies and agents, while the extensive structural diversity of viruses and their high mutation rates further underscore the critical need for structural analysis of viral proteins to aid antiviral development. This review highlights the significance of structure-based investigations for bridging the gap between structure and function, thus facilitating the development of effective antiviral therapeutics, vaccines, and antibodies for tackling emerging viral threats. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6c1be6b218fd42b7aebbbf73085c71e8 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1999-4915 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Viruses |
| spelling | doaj-art-6c1be6b218fd42b7aebbbf73085c71e82025-08-20T01:50:10ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152025-03-0117341710.3390/v17030417Structural Virology: The Key Determinants in Development of Antiviral TherapeuticsTanuj Handa0Ankita Saha1Aarthi Narayanan2Elsa Ronzier3Pravindra Kumar4Jitin Singla5Shailly Tomar6Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, IndiaDepartment of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, IndiaDepartment of Biology, College of Science, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USABiomedical Research Laboratory, Institute for Biohealth Innovation, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USADepartment of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, IndiaDepartment of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, IndiaDepartment of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, IndiaStructural virology has emerged as the foundation for the development of effective antiviral therapeutics. It is pivotal in providing crucial insights into the three-dimensional frame of viruses and viral proteins at atomic-level or near-atomic-level resolution. Structure-based assessment of viral components, including capsids, envelope proteins, replication machinery, and host interaction interfaces, is instrumental in unraveling the multiplex mechanisms of viral infection, replication, and pathogenesis. The structural elucidation of viral enzymes, including proteases, polymerases, and integrases, has been essential in combating viruses like HIV-1 and HIV-2, SARS-CoV-2, and influenza. Techniques including X-ray crystallography, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy, Cryo-electron Microscopy, and Cryo-electron Tomography have revolutionized the field of virology and significantly aided in the discovery of antiviral therapeutics. The ubiquity of chronic viral infections, along with the emergence and reemergence of new viral threats necessitate the development of novel antiviral strategies and agents, while the extensive structural diversity of viruses and their high mutation rates further underscore the critical need for structural analysis of viral proteins to aid antiviral development. This review highlights the significance of structure-based investigations for bridging the gap between structure and function, thus facilitating the development of effective antiviral therapeutics, vaccines, and antibodies for tackling emerging viral threats.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/3/417structural virologyantiviral therapeuticsviral proteinsviral replication enzymesX-ray crystallographynuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) |
| spellingShingle | Tanuj Handa Ankita Saha Aarthi Narayanan Elsa Ronzier Pravindra Kumar Jitin Singla Shailly Tomar Structural Virology: The Key Determinants in Development of Antiviral Therapeutics Viruses structural virology antiviral therapeutics viral proteins viral replication enzymes X-ray crystallography nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) |
| title | Structural Virology: The Key Determinants in Development of Antiviral Therapeutics |
| title_full | Structural Virology: The Key Determinants in Development of Antiviral Therapeutics |
| title_fullStr | Structural Virology: The Key Determinants in Development of Antiviral Therapeutics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Structural Virology: The Key Determinants in Development of Antiviral Therapeutics |
| title_short | Structural Virology: The Key Determinants in Development of Antiviral Therapeutics |
| title_sort | structural virology the key determinants in development of antiviral therapeutics |
| topic | structural virology antiviral therapeutics viral proteins viral replication enzymes X-ray crystallography nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/3/417 |
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