A new discovery could lead to a “unique” treatment for incurable diseases such as HIV, Zika, Herpes and Vrs

A team of researchers has just discovered compounds that could lead to a new generation of antiviral drugs capable of fighting several viruses at the same time. In addition, Instead of targeting a specific virus, new molecules act by activating a powerful defense within the host cells.

Technology focuses on a natural cell defense system called “stress -integrated response track”. Moreover, The cells normally trigger this path to stop the production of proteins when they detect a viral infection. However, which prevents the virus from replying. Therefore, The new identified compounds act as amplifiers of this answer. “If the way is activated in response to a viral infection. our compounds activate it at full speed,” explains Felix Wong, the main author.

To find these molecules, the team has developed a new screening technique to test nearly 400,000 new discovery could lead “unique” different chemical compounds. This process made it possible to find several promising candidates. During tests on human cells. these compounds helped cells repel infections by the VRS, the herpes virus and the Zika virus. One of the compounds. IBX-200, has also proved to be effective in mice, where it reduced the viral load and removed the symptoms of infection by the herpes virus.

An interesting aspect of this approach is that the compounds seem to have no effect on cells that are not already infected. and only activate when a virus triggers the response to stress.

We are very excited by these works. which allow us to exploit the response to the stress of host cells in order to identify and develop antivirals with broad spectrum. – James Collinsone of the authors of the article.

The team now plans to test the compounds against other viruses in the hope new discovery could lead “unique” of developing them for clinical trials.