Antiviral drug discovery – Part 2: From candidates to investigational drugs

by Virology Research Services | Sep 30, 2019 | Virus Methods

In this three-part blog series, we present the typical workflow of an antiviral discovery program, from the initial identification of antiviral molecules in vitro (Part 1) to preclinical testing (Part 2) and assessing the onset of drug resistance (Part 3). These early...

The making of dengue virus: NS1

by Virology Research Services | Sep 30, 2019 | Virus of the Month

The RNA genome of dengue virus (DENV) encodes seven nonstructural proteins that are essential for viral replication (NS1, NS2A, NS2B, NS3, NS4A, NS4B, and NS5). In this month’s post, we dissect the characteristics and roles of NS1, a multifunctional glycoprotein that...

Gut microbiome powers flu vaccination

by Virology Research Services | Sep 30, 2019 | VRS Blog

Our gut talks the language of our immune system, playing a key role in the complex mechanisms of immunoregulation. If antibiotics are essential to kill pathogenic bacteria, it is also true that they change the composition and metabolism of the gut microbiome, the...

Antiviral drug discovery – Part 1: From no drug to promising candidates

by Virology Research Services | Aug 30, 2019 | Virus Methods

From target to drug Traditionally, antiviral drug discovery has started from detailed knowledge of a specific viral target. Proteins that are critical for a virus’ life cycle (e.g., polymerase, protease, and envelope) are first characterised, ideally by...

The making of dengue virus: the structural proteins

by Virology Research Services | Aug 30, 2019 | Virus of the Month

A brief jaunt through the dengue life cycle During DENV entry into the host cell, the envelope protein binds to the cognate receptor and triggers DENV endocytosis and internalization within an endosome. Next, low endosomal pH induces changes in the conformation of the...