NIAID herpesvirus study in mice leads to discovery of potential broad-spectrum antiviral

(NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) NIAID scientists studying herpes simplex virus infection have unexpectedly found that inhibiting a cellular enzyme complex, EZH2/1, suppresses viral infection. The researchers then demonstrated that EZH2/1 inhibitors also enhanced the cellular antiviral response in cultured cells and mice. They then showed that EZH2/1 inhibitors suppressed HSV infection, spread, and reactivation in mice and, in cell culture, suppressed human cytomegalovirus, adenovirus, and Zika virus infections. They suggest that EZH2/1 inhibitors have considerable potential as broad-spectrum antivirals.
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news