Viral particles and host cell molecules

The term Viral particles and host cell molecules refers to a broad category of biological entities involved in the infection process rather than a single specific therapeutic target. Viral particles, or virions, consist of genetic material (DNA or RNA) protected by a protein capsid and, in some cases, a lipid envelope derived from the host cell (NIH, 2023). Host cell molecules are endogenous proteins, lipids, or carbohydrates that viruses exploit to gain entry, such as the Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor for SARS-CoV-2 or the CD4 receptor for HIV (Nature Reviews Microbiology, 2020). Drugs interacting with these components include direct-acting antivirals that target viral enzymes like proteases and polymerases, as well as host-directed therapies that block the receptors or pathways necessary for viral survival (PubMed, 2021). Because this designation covers thousands of distinct proteins across various species, it is classified as an incorrect or overly broad target for specific drug development documentation (UniProt, 2024). Understanding the interaction between these two groups is essential for the design of vaccines and broad-spectrum antiviral agents (StatPearls, 2023).

Other names

Virions and host factorsViral-host interactomePathogen-host interface

Inhibition of viral attachment, fusion, uncoating, replication, or assembly by targeting either viral structural proteins, enzymes, or host-cell receptors.