ABSTRACT
Introduction The advent of antibiotics and antivirals that target key components of molecules necessary for
microbial entry, replication and virulence has allowed mankind to control and prevent microbial infec tions. However, overuse of antimicrobial agents, the selection pressure ofthese agents on the microbes and the ability of microbes to evolve genetically have resulted in the emergence of drug-resistant pathogens. In the case of influenza, currendy, two classes of antiviral drugs are available to treat in fluenza infections: the M2 ion-channel blockers amantadine and rimantadine for influenza A viruses and the NA inhibitors oseltamivir and zanamivir for both influenza A and B viruses. However, the emergence of human seasonal as well as highly virulent H5N1 influenza viruses that are resistant to one or both the classes of drugs underscores the need for development of new generation drugs as well as other novel preventive and therapeutic strategies. For example, the worldwide circulation of adamantane-resistant influenza A viruses increased from about 0.4% inl994-95 to almost 92% by the 2004-05 season.1 Currendy circulating H3N2 and 2009 pandemic H1N1 viruses are resistant to adamantanes, thereby leaving us with the neuraminidase inhibitors as the drug of choice for pro phylactic and therapeutic use against influenza.1 Furthermore, the recent emergence ofNA inhibitor
Nucleic Acid Sensors and Antiviral Immunity, edited by Suryaprakash Sambhara and Takashi Fujita. ©2013 Landes Bioscience.
