Tushar Nair
Independent Researcher
Kerala, India
Abstract
Emerging viral infections pose a persistent global threat due to their rapid transmission, high mutation rates, and potential to cause epidemics or pandemics. Traditional antiviral strategies have struggled to keep pace with the evolving nature of these viruses, necessitating the development of novel therapeutic approaches. Among these, peptide-based antivirals have garnered increasing attention due to their high specificity, modular design, biocompatibility, and potential to disrupt critical virus-host interactions. These therapeutic peptides can function through multiple mechanisms, including viral entry inhibition, replication disruption, and immune modulation. This manuscript provides a comprehensive exploration of the potential of peptide-based antivirals as a viable strategy against emerging viral infections. The review highlights key examples of antiviral peptides, their sources (including natural, synthetic, and engineered peptides), mechanisms of action, and preclinical success. Furthermore, it assesses challenges in stability, delivery, and resistance, along with promising solutions such as cyclization, nanocarriers, and conjugation strategies. The discussion establishes the relevance of peptide antivirals as both standalone agents and components of combinatory antiviral therapies, supporting their potential translation into effective treatments for a broad spectrum of viral threats.
Keywords
Peptide antivirals, viral inhibition, emerging infections, host-virus interactions, therapeutic peptides
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