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mTOR kinase is a therapeutic target for respiratory syncytial virus and coronaviruses.
Huynh, HoangDinh; Levitz, Ruth; Huang, Rong; Kahn, Jeffrey S.
  • Huynh H; Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA.
  • Levitz R; Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA.
  • Huang R; Department of Research Administration Children's Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75235, USA.
  • Kahn JS; Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA. Jeffrey.Kahn@UTSouthwestern.edu.
Sci Rep ; 11(1): 24442, 2021 12 24.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1577650
ABSTRACT
Therapeutic interventions targeting viral infections remain a significant challenge for both the medical and scientific communities. While specific antiviral agents have shown success as therapeutics, viral resistance inevitably develops, making many of these approaches ineffective. This inescapable obstacle warrants alternative approaches, such as the targeting of host cellular factors. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the major respiratory pathogen of infants and children worldwide, causes respiratory tract infection ranging from mild upper respiratory tract symptoms to severe life-threatening lower respiratory tract disease. Despite the fact that the molecular biology of the virus, which was originally discovered in 1956, is well described, there is no vaccine or effective antiviral treatment against RSV infection. Here, we demonstrate that targeting host factors, specifically, mTOR signaling, reduces RSV protein production and generation of infectious progeny virus. Further, we show that this approach can be generalizable as inhibition of mTOR kinases reduces coronavirus gene expression, mRNA transcription and protein production. Overall, defining virus replication-dependent host functions may be an effective means to combat viral infections, particularly in the absence of antiviral drugs.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Viral Proteins / Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human / Coronavirus / TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases Topics: Vaccines Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: Sci Rep Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S41598-021-03814-7

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Viral Proteins / Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human / Coronavirus / TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases Topics: Vaccines Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: Sci Rep Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S41598-021-03814-7