Spectrum of candidate molecules against Chikungunya virus - an insight into the antiviral screening platforms

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Chikungunya disease has undergone a phenomenal transition in its status from being recognized as a sporadic infection to acquiring a global prominence over the last couple of decades. The causative agent behind the explosive epidemics worldwide is the re-emerging pathogen, Chikungunya virus (CHIKV).

Areas covered: The current review discusses all the possible avenues of antiviral research towards combating CHIKV infection. Aspects of antiviral drug discovery such as antiviral targets, candidate molecules screened, and the various criteria to be a potential inhibitor are all discussed at length. Existing antiviral drug screening tools for CHIKV and their applications are thoroughly described. Clinical trial status of agents with therapeutic potential has been updated with special mention of candidate molecules under patent approval. Databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Google Patent, and Clinical Trial Registry platforms were referred.

Expert opinion: The massive outbreaks of Chikungunya viral disease in the recent past and the serious health concerns imposed thereby, have driven the search for effective therapeutics. The greatest challenge being the non-availability of robust, reproducible, cost-effective and biologically accurate assay models. Nevertheless, there is a need to identify good models mimicking the appropriate microenvironment of an infectious setting.

KEYWORDS:

• Antivirals
• Chikungunya virus
• non-structural proteins
• screening tools
• structural proteins

Article highlights

• This review emphasizes the essential features of CHIKV identified as antiviral targets, a plethora of candidate molecules screened, and the various structural requirements of a potential inhibitor, all discussed at a length.

• Greatest challenges in the search for effective prophylactics and therapeutics against Chikungunya are the availability of robust, reproducible, cost-effective and biologically accurate assay models.

• Cell-based anti-CHIKV testing models are available. Nonetheless, the development of individual CHIKV enzyme assays would immensely benefit research programs, aimed at identifying targets for newly discovered inhibitors.

• Computational techniques together with molecular biology studies will emerge immensely helpful in building the foundation for high-throughput anti-viral screening for infectious diseases.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.