Award Details:
Award Type: Accelerator
Award #: A-015
Proposal Title: Prazole Analogs to Block the Budding of Viruses
PI(s): Jonathan Leis (NU)
Award Amount: $100,000.00
Application Cycle: Round 4 (Spring 2020)
Award Start Date: September 1, 2020
Award End Date: August 31, 2021
Abstract:
Viral infections represent a significant global health challenge. Current therapies target viral proteins from a single virus, limiting their utility, and making them vulnerable to drug resistance. An alternative approach would focus on host processes necessary for viral infection. A key step for enveloped viruses is releasing mature particles (budding) from membranes. Blocking this budding process would stop viral spread, but is not currently a therapeutic target. We identified small molecules, called viral budding inhibitors (VBIs), that quantitatively block budding of HIV-1 and HSV-1/2. Since the same VBIs block both viruses, they have potential for broad-spectrum applications including the possibility of blocking budding of SARS-CoV-2. We believe that targeting host rather than viral proteins reduces risks of drug resistance. Importantly, VBIs inhibit viral budding without disrupting normal functions of the host target. If developed into a drug, VBIs would represent a significant advance for treating viral infections worldwide.