Amphotericin B as antiviral drug: Possible efficacy against COVID-19

Falah Hasan Obayes AL-KhikaniAnnals of Thoracic Medicine 2020 15(3):118-124 Since its discovery, amphotericin B (AmB) is still one of the most common first-line choices in treatment pulmonary mycoses for over seventh decades from discovery. AmB which is belonged to the polyene group has a wide spectrum in vitro and in vivo antimicrobial activity against fungi and parasites, resistance to AmB is rare despite extensive use. Recently, some studies focused on the potential antimicrobial action of AmB against some enveloped viruses such as human immunodeficiency virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, and rubella virus. Coronaviruses are enveloped positive-sense RNA nucleic acid viruses that have club-like spikes, characterized by a distinctive replication strategy; they are round and sometimes pleomorphic shapes. COVID-19 is regarding the new genera of coronaviridae that appear the first time in Wuhan, China, in early December 2019. Due to the continuous spreading of the novel COVID-19 with the exponential rise in death numbers, new therapeutic development is urgent, in general, there are no specific antiviral drugs or vaccines for 2019-novel coronavirus. Hence, this review may serve as an impetus for researchers working in the field of medical microbiology, vaccination, and antiviral drug design by discussion the most recent information about the antiviral action of AmB against COVID-19 infection as well as trying to a deep understanding of major properties, mechanisms of action, i...
Source: Annals of Thoracic Medicine - Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Source Type: research