Polymerase Inhibitors: Antiviral Therapy

Polymerase inhibitors are antiviral medications that target viral enzymes involved in replication. They inhibit the polymerase enzyme, essential for viral genome replication.

Polymerase Inhibitors FAQ

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What are PCR inhibitors?

PCR inhibitors are any factor which prevent the amplification of nucleic acids through the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR inhibition is the most common cause of amplification failure when sufficient copies of DNA are present. PCR inhibitors usually affect PCR through interaction with DNA or interference with the DNA polymerase.

How do inhibitors interact with DNA polymerases?

Direct binding of agents to single-stranded or double-stranded DNA can prevent amplification and facilitate co-purification of inhibitor and DNA. Inhibitors can also interact directly with a DNA polymerase to block enzyme activity. DNA polymerases have cofactor requirements that can be the target of inhibition.

Are polymerase inhibitors a target for antiviral agents?

Because this polymerase is essential for influenza virus replication, it has been considered as a target for antiviral agents. Recently, several polymerase inhibitors that target each subunit have been developed.

Why do some DNA polymerases have different resistance to PCR inhibitors?

As well as methods for the removal of inhibitors from samples before PCR, some DNA polymerases offer varying resistance to different inhibitors and increasing the concentration of the chosen DNA polymerase also confers some resistance to polymerase-targeted inhibitors.

Which polymerase inhibitors are used in the treatment of influenza?

Recently, several polymerase inhibitors that target each subunit have been developed. This review provides an overview of three such inhibitors approved for the treatment of influenza or in late-phase clinical trials: the PB1 inhibitor favipiravir, the PB2 inhibitor pimodivir, and the PA inhibitor baloxavir marboxil ( Table 1 ). Table 1.

Which RNA-dependent RNA polymerases are a primary target for nucleotide analog inhibitors?

Herein we focus on viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRp) as a primary target for nucleotide analog inhibitors using poliovirus (PV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), influenza viruses, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV-2 as highlighted examples.

What is a non-nucleoside inhibitor of respiratory syncytial virus polymerase complex?

Cryo-EM structure and inhibition assays reveal a non-nucleoside inhibitor of the respiratory syncytial virus polymerase complex that acts by binding to an induced-fit pocket in the capping domain.