ABSTRACT
Zanamivir (4-guanidino-2,4-dideoxy-2,3-dehydro-N-acetyl-neuraminic acid; C12H20N4O7) is a potent and selective inhibitor of influenza neuraminidase (NA), an enzyme embedded in the lipid envelope of influenza A and B viruses. NA catalyzes an essential step in progeny viral release and dispersal from infected cells by hydrolyzing the linkage between the cell receptor for influenza viruses, terminal N-acetyl-neuraminic acid (sialic acid [SA]), and the hemagglutinin (HA) molecule, which is the virus ligand on the envelope of budding virions.
