Scientists have developed novel drug-like molecules that could potentially prevent influenza infections by targeting the initial stage of the viral infection process. This represents a shift from traditional flu medications, which only treat after infection has occurred. The research indicates significant progress in the development of a preventative treatment for influenza, potentially reducing the need for annual vaccinations.
“We’re trying to target the very first stage of influenza infection since it would be better to prevent infection in the first place, but these molecules could also be used to inhibit the spread of the virus after one’s infected,” says corresponding author Ian Wilson, DPhil, the Hansen Professor of Structural Biology at Scripps Research.
Compound 7, a molecular inhibitor of the influenza virus, interacting with the influenza virus’ hemagglutinin protein. Credit: Scripps Research “We showed that these inhibitors bind much more tightly to the viral antigen hemagglutinin than the original lead molecule did,” says Wilson. “By using click-chemistry, we basically extended the compounds’ ability to interact with influenza by making them target additional pockets on the antigen surface.
In future studies, the team plans to continue to optimize compound 7 and to test the inhibitor in animal models of influenza.
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