Executive Summary : | Viral-based infectious diseases, such as seasonal influenza and SARS-CoV-2, have a significant impact on global health and the economy. The traditional "one bug-one drug" approach may not be the correct way to treat infections and control future outbreaks. Therefore, the development of broad-spectrum antivirals is crucial for controlling viral infections. These antivirals target essential features of the viral life cycle, such as membrane fusion, which is essential for the survival of enveloped viruses like influenza, corona, zika, HIV, and dengue. The proposal aims to design molecules that act as membrane fusion inhibitors. Three main objectives are proposed: designing a small-molecule fusion inhibitor, designing a dual inhibitor, and designing a peptide-based fusion inhibitor. The first involves designing a small-molecule fusion inhibitor that looks at the intracellular survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and its evasion from phagosome-lysosome fusion. The second involves designing a dual inhibitor that modulates membrane properties to inhibit membrane fusion and blocks the ACE2-spike interaction. The third involves designing a peptide-based fusion inhibitor that alters the fusion susceptible conformation of the fusion peptide. The research aims to develop an effective fusion inhibitor that will lead to broad-spectrum antivirals, as viral infections are a global problem that requires effective measures to control them. By addressing these challenges, the development of broad-spectrum antivirals can help combat the global issue of viral infections. |