Computer-aided identification and synthesis of novel broad-spectrum antiviral agents

A combination of computer-aided drug design techniques and synthetic organic chemistry methods will be used to identify and synthesise novel broad-spectrum antiviral treatments, in the form of small-molecule compounds, for different viral infections, caused by coronaviruses, New World arenaviruses (NWA), and by enteroviruses. Coronaviruses are responsible for deadly human diseases such as SARS, MERS and COVID-19. The second viral group is instead associated with deadly haemorrhagic fever diseases in humans, while the third is responsible for numerous, severe conditions, especially in young children.

In all cases, suitable targets for the development of broad-spectrum therapies have been identified. These targets will be studied with a series of in silico analyses, which will guide the design and synthesis of novel compounds, able to interfere with the essential functions of these proteins, and therefore to impair the virus life cycle.