Vicent Rocaniello, over at the virology blog, has an interesting article about a new antiviral drug to fight enveloped viruses (www.virology.ws/2010/02/18/an-antiviral-for-enveloped-viruses). Apparently, the drug works by incorporation into the membrane and disruption of viral membrane fusion.
Head over there for the full article and Comments.
Note: One of the issues brought up in the post is the possibility of acquiring resistance. Other antivirals like neuramindiase inhibitors result in mutations which make the drug ineffective. As far as I'm aware, these mutations don't alter the fitness level of the virus much(i.e. worse neuraminidase makes a slower spreading virus is not really the case). So my question is: even if resistance develops, will there be a fitness cost to the virus? Will the virus be able to spread efficiently between hosts?
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