Emerging directions in antiviral drug discovery and target mechanisms

Antiviral drug discovery is a critical and rapidly evolving area of biomedical research, driven by the urgent need to combat existing and emerging viral threats to global health. While more than 200 viruses are recognized as causative agents of human diseases, many viral infections still lack effective therapeutic options. The limitations of current antiviral drugs—including their restricted target range and the ever-present challenge of viral resistance—underscore persistent gaps in our ability to manage both established and novel viral pathogens. Notably, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the consequences of insufficient antiviral preparedness, emphasizing the necessity for continuous innovation in identifying druggable targets and developing robust therapeutic strategies. Recent studies have demonstrated advances in broad-spectrum antivirals, the refinement of direct-acting antivirals, and new methods for discovering conserved viral and host proteins amenable to pharmacological intervention. Nevertheless, the quest for antiviral drugs that combine potency, breadth, and sustainable efficacy remains incomplete, with significant gaps in mechanistic understanding, resistance profiling, and the identification and validation of novel viral and host targets.This Research Topic aims to propel the field of antiviral drug discovery by fostering the development and mechanistic elucidation of novel therapeutic agents. The primary objectives are to stimulate research that systematically identifies and prioritizes innovative antiviral targets, validates these targets using cutting-edge methodologies, and designs new small-molecule or biologic antivirals. Moreover, the goal is to deepen the mechanistic understanding of how these agents interact with viral or host machinery, with a view toward overcoming resistance and expanding the therapeutic arsenal for both endemic and emergent viral infections. Emphasis will be placed on multidisciplinary and translational work that bridges basic discovery and potential clinical application.Within the boundaries of early-stage discovery through to advanced mechanistic and translational studies, this Research Topic welcomes submissions that shed light on the entire continuum of antiviral development, from target identification to detailed studies of drug action. The scope is broad but focused on high-quality research that advances the knowledge of antiviral mechanisms and therapeutic innovation. We invite contributions addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:o Identification and validation of novel viral or host therapeutic targetso Structure-guided drug design and optimization of antiviral moleculeso Development and evaluation of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) and broad-spectrum agentso Mechanism-of-action studies utilizing biochemical, biophysical, or computational methodso Resistance profiling, mutational analysis, and strategies to circumvent resistanceo Translational research bridging the gap between in vitro findings and in vivo or clinical efficacyo Integration of multidisciplinary approaches, including medicinal chemistry, virology, structural biology, and pharmacologyEligible article types include original research articles, comprehensive reviews, short communications, and perspectives that offer significant conceptual or methodological advances in antiviral therapeutics. Topic editors: Gudepalya Renukaiah Rudramurthy, Satya Prakash Singh Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/79626/emerging-directions-in-antiviral-drug-discovery-and-target-mechanisms