Flu be gone! New concept may lead to the discovery of universal anti-flu drugs

Researchers from the University of Hertfordshire have developed a new concept that may lead to the discovery of universal anti-influenza drugs, according to findings recently published in the journal Virology.

In the study, the researchers characterised the drug target — the influenza A basic polymerase protein 2 (PB2) that is required to make the virus infectious — by analysing 12,000 sequences. In this characterisation, evolutionary conserved regions across the protein sequence were identified as well as ligand binding sites that overlapped these conserved areas.

Screening around 50,000 compounds, the team found the binding affinities for these sites and then screened 1738 FDA approved drugs to see which would bind the best. In this process, the antipsychotic paliperidone was found to be a good match.

Based on the results of this study, future researchers will be able to employ the computational screening methods to predict suitable therapies and then take research further with the predicted drug.

“The influenza A virus causes human flu, bird flu and swine flu and also affects other animals, however, there is so much variability in the virus that many potential drugs are only effective for a short period before the virus becomes resistant — hence the need for this study, to help discover antivirals which are effective against more strains,” said Dr Andreas Kukol from the University of Hertfordshire.

“Our research is a good foundation for developing flu antivirals that may be universally effective in human and veterinary medicine,” added Hershna Patel, a PhD student working on the project. “Identifying a common theme among the 12,000 sequences, ensures that the virus is unlikely to mutate and become resistant. Further work will now be required to test the computationally predicted drugs and find our if they do in fact inhibit virus replication.”