Multiple viral and host targets

The term Multiple viral and host targets refers to a therapeutic approach rather than a single molecular entity. It describes drugs or treatment regimens that simultaneously act upon viral components, such as enzymes essential for replication, and host cellular factors that the virus hijacks to complete its life cycle (PubMed: 32353737). This strategy is often employed to develop broad-spectrum antivirals or to overcome the high mutation rates of viruses that lead to drug resistance (Nature Reviews Drug Discovery: 10.1038/nrd.2017.232). By targeting host proteins, such as those involved in viral entry or protein synthesis, the therapy can remain effective across different viral strains or even different families of viruses. However, because this involves manipulating the host's own biological machinery, it carries a higher risk of adverse effects compared to therapies that exclusively target viral proteins. As a target designation, it is considered non-specific and represents a collection of diverse biological molecules involved in infection (StatPearls: NBK541002).

Other names

Broad-spectrum antiviral targetsHost-pathogen interactomeMulti-target antiviral therapy

Simultaneous inhibition of viral proteins (e.g., RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, proteases) and modulation of host cell factors (e.g., entry receptors, kinases, or immune signaling pathways) to suppress viral infection and spread.