Unravelling multi-target antiviral strategies: Bridging medicinal chemistry and viral resistance

Viral diseases remain a significant challenge worldwide, compounded by the rapid emergence of drug-resistant strains. Monotherapy antivirals often struggle to maintain efficacy against evolving viruses due to mutations that lead to resistance. Multi-target antiviral (MTA) strategies, however, provide a promising alternative by targeting multiple viral or host mechanisms simultaneously. This approach, supported by advances in medicinal chemistry, computational design, and chemical biology, holds the potential to enhance therapeutic outcomes, improve resistance profiles, and offer broader-spectrum antiviral activity. Current research focuses on developing dual inhibitors, hybrid molecules, and modulators of host-virus interactions to combat viral infections more effectively.

The primary aim of this Research Topic is to explore and showcase cutting-edge medicinal chemistry approaches for discovering and developing MTAs. It seeks to integrate fundamental concepts with applied research, merging the fields of medicinal chemistry and virology. This Research Topic will host contributions from medicinal chemists, virologists, computational scientists, and pharmacologists, facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration. By consolidating advances in MTA research, this topic intends to foster innovative therapeutic strategies and create a comprehensive knowledge base for broad-spectrum, resistance-resilient antivirals.

In defining its scope, this Research Topic invites submissions that cover an array of themes central to MTA research, balancing both breadth and depth. We welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

o Design and synthesis of dual or multi-target small molecules with antiviral activity.

o Hybrid pharmacophores combining nucleoside analogues, protease inhibitors, polymerase inhibitors, or entry blockers.

o Medicinal chemistry of host-virus interface modulators, such as kinase inhibitors and chaperone-targeting agents.

o Computational drug design and AI/ML approaches for predicting and optimizing MTA candidates.

o Exploration of natural product–derived scaffolds with intrinsic multi-target antiviral activity.

o Case studies of successful MTAs against viruses like HIV, HCV, SARS-CoV-2, and influenza.

o Resistance studies and strategies to overcome viral escape through multi-target design.

o Considerations of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in MTA drug development.

This Research Topic will accept original research articles, reviews, mini-reviews, and perspectives.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Antivirals, Multitargeting, Medicinal Chemistry, Hybrid Molecules, Host Modulators, Drug Resistance

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.