Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0022568 (keratitis)
 5,133 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The development of new antiviral agents has gained increasing momentum. It has kept pace with the identification of specific sites ("targets") in the virus replicative cycle at which potential antiviral drug can interact. The current armamentarium of available antiviral drugs consists of amantadine and rimantadine (against influenza A), ribavirin (against respiratory syncytial virus infection), idoxuridine and trifluridine (against herpetic keratitis), vidarabine and acyclovir (against herpes simplex virus infections), ganciclovir (against cytomegalovirus infections) and Retrovir (against AIDS). Various new compounds have been found which selectively inhibit those viruses [i.e. adenovirus, varicella-zoster virus, thymidine kinase-deficient (TK-) herpes simplex virus strains, and rhinoviruses] that are insensitive or poorly sensitive to the presently available antivirals. Several new compounds have also proven active against human immunodeficiency virus, the causative agent of AIDS; and, as a spin-off of the search for anti-AIDS drugs, new agents may also be expected that are effective against other retrovirus infections as well as hepadnavirus (i.e. hepatitis B virus) infections.
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PMID:New acquisitions in the chemotherapy of viral infections. 216 18

Interferons (IFN) are potent antiviral, cytostatic-cytotoxic and immunomodulatory agents. Although gene technology has made available an unlimited supply of all different kinds and types of IFN, their basic modes of action have not been clarified up to now. The therapeutic effects proven differ gradually between the individual disease entities. They comprise prophylaxis, prevention of recurrences and direct therapeutic effect, either of reducing the actual disease symptoms, or of inducing a complete recovery. For the following viral diseases a positive therapeutic effect has been shown: infections by herpes-viruses (herpes simplex keratitis , herpes zoster, herpes simplex), cytomegalovirus infections, chronic-hepatitis B virus infection, acute respiratory virus infections by rhino-, corona- and influenza viruses. Especially for the group of virus-associated tumors and papillomas, IFN is considered to be therapeutically effective. IFN has been accepted to be the first line treatment for laryngeal papillomatosis. In condylomata acuminata too, IFN is a potent therapeutic agent. Moreover, IFN represents the most effective therapeutic modality for Kaposi's sarcoma in patient with AIDS. Hairy cell leukemia, malignant lymphoma, multiple myeloma, melanoma and hypernephroma are the malignancies, for which a therapeutic effect of IFN could be proven. Furthermore, IFN is considered to be the therapy of first choice for hairy cell leukemias. Although there are some signs, that IFN could be a potent agent for adjuvant therapy, this question can not be answered - not even on principle - because of lacking sufficient data so far. Up to date, the therapeutic efficacy of IFN seems to be established only for hairy cell leukemia, laryngeal papillomatosis, Kaposi's sarcoma in patients with AIDS and partly for condylomata acuminata. For all other indications, first of all, sufficient phase-II-study data will have to be evaluated, before prospectively controlled studies, comparing the IFN treatment results with placebo and standard therapy results, can be initiated for the individual disease entities. Then, it will be possible to assess the therapeutic efficacy of IFN. Already now, IFN represent a valuable enrichment of the therapeutic modalities for malignancies and viral diseases.
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PMID:[Current status of interferon therapy]. 242 97

Clinical trials of the antiviral action of interferon have shown an effect on the replication of several viruses including varicella zoster, herpes simplex, cytomegalovirus and hepatitis B. These studies indicate that administration early in the course of infection, or in some clinical circumstances, prophylactic administration, is likely to result in viral inhibition. The studies of interferon efficacy in topical application, as in prevention of recurrent herpes simplex keratitis, have shown limited efficacy except with very high doses. These studies are being pursued with more concentrated preparations of interferon. The evaluation of interferon in human malignancy is just beginning, but some encouraging results have been obtained in open trials of the drug in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, melanoma, osteogenic sarcoma, and other diseases. With newer methods for the production of interferon, it may be possible to evaluate its antiviral and anti-tumor effects in carefully controlled studies with larger numbers of subjects.
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PMID:Interferon as an antiviral and anti-tumor therapeutic agent. 616 51

For several years, interferon alpha-1, also known as interferon alpha-D, has been studied for treatment of various viral diseases, such as hepatic fibrosis caused by hepatitis B, herpes simplex virus keratitis, and bovine respiratory diseases in calves. Currently, recombinant human interferon alpha-D (rHuIFNalphaD) is expressed intracellularly in Escherichia coli or secreted by Bacillus subtilis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In this report, we describe the process of obtaining a relatively high-yield secretion of biologically active recombinant rHuIFNalphaD using the Pichia pastoris system. The process produced as high as 0.7 mg of purified protein per 20 ml of shake culture of rHuIFNalphaD with better bioactivity than the commercially available rHuIFNalphaD molecule produced in E. coli.
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PMID:High-yield expression and purification of human interferon alpha-1 in Pichia pastoris. 1148 99

The role of immunologic factors in the development of ophthalmic pathologies in persons infected by hepatitis B virus (HBV) affecting the liver or in asymptomatic virus carriers (a total of 285 persons, 328 eyes) was studied. The deficit of CD3 and CD4 cells, gammopathy, increased levels of circulating immune complexes and of TNF-alpha in the serum; the deficit of IgA and an enhanced secretion of IgG in the lachrymal fluid; as well as a weakened ability of the local and systematic production of IFN-alpha were typical for a majority of patients. The most profound changes were detected in cases of uveitis; apart from the above mentioned, an increase of the CD4/CD8 index as well as of organ-specific and inter-organ immunization was found. The cases of keratitis (92% of the stromal type) were distinguished through a hypersecretion of TNF-alpha both in the serum and in the lachrymal fluid. Complicated cataracts were observed mainly in convalescents or in asymptomatic virus carriers; immune disorders were less seldom encountered in this category, as compared to the cases of eye inflammations, and basically they were local. The obtained data were considered in treatment. Imunofan, when added to the traditional therapy (symptomatic and corticosteroid one), activated the local and systematic antiviral immunity, suppressed the production of pro-viral cytokines and reduced the autoimmune reactions. As a result of this, the treatment time, the frequency rate of relapses as well as the number of anti-inflammatory and postoperative (in cataracts) complications decreased. The study results are indicative of that the immunopathological reactions, which are typical of HBV patients, can be detected at the ocular level and they can provoke ophthalmic pathologies. The nature, severity and relation between the local and systematic immune disorders predetermine, to a considerable extent, the development of an eye disease and its severity. The treatment (and prophylaxis) of HBV-associated ophthalmic pathologies require an obligatory usage of immunity-correcting means and clinical-and-immunological monitoring.
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PMID:[The role of immunopathological reactions in the development of eye diseases in persons infected by hepatitis B virus and the efficiency of immuno-correcting therapy]. 1280 Apr 83

In this paper, we review sexually transmitted diseases (STD) involving the eye. Recently conjunctivitis due to Chlamydia trachomatis in children and adults is increasing, and that of Neisseria gonorrhoeae resistant to multiple antibiotics has attracted special attention in our country. Syphilis has many ocular manifestations such as keratitis, iridocyclitis, retinochorioiditis, and neuritis, etc. Ocular complications related to HIV infection, including HIV retinopathy, cytomegalovirus retinitis, zoster ophthalmics, and Kaposi s sarcoma in conjunctiva are increasing in Japan. Phthirus pubis infection of the eye lid, and human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-associated uveitis are occasionally reported. Furthermore conjunctival tumor associated with human papilloma virus (HPV) infection, acute retinal necrosis(ARN) due to herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), as well as hepatitis B virus (HVB) and hepatitis C virus (HVC) retinopathy are also mentioned in this review.
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PMID:[STD in the eye]. 1917 59

In 1959, 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine (IDU) was described, the first antiviral drug ever to be (and still) marketed (for the topical treatment of herpetic keratitis). Now 50 years following the description (of the synthesis) of IDU, we have 50 compounds on the market that have been licensed for clinical use in the treatment of virus infections. Of those 50, exactly 25 have been formally approved as anti-HIV drugs; the other 25 have been formally approved for the treatment of other virus infections: herpes simplex virus (HSV), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and influenza virus infections.
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PMID:Looking back in 2009 at the dawning of antiviral therapy now 50 years ago an historical perspective. 1969 80

The protective ability of host defense system is largely dependent on germ-line encoded pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs). These PRRs respond to a variety of exogenous pathogens or endogenous danger signals, by recognizing some highly conserved structures such as pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and danger/damage associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). The most studied PRRs are Toll-like receptors (TLRs). Activation of TLRs triggers production of inflammatory cytokines and type I interferons (IFNs) via myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88)-dependent or -independent signaling respectively, thereby modulating innate and adaptive immunity, as well as inflammatory responses. This review introduces the classification, structure, and specific ligands of TLRs, and focuses on their signal pathways and biological activities, as well as clinical relevance. These studies of TLRs in the innate immune system have implications for the prevention and treatment of a variety of infectious diseases, including tuberculosis (TB), microbial keratitis, and hepatitis B and C.
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PMID:Toll-like receptors in innate immunity and infectious diseases. 2113 6

The efforts made to develop RNAi-based therapies have led to productive research in the field of infections in humans, such as hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), herpetic keratitis, human papillomavirus, or influenza virus. Naked RNAi molecules are rapidly digested by nucleases in the serum, and due to their negative surface charge, entry into the cell cytoplasm is also hampered, which makes necessary the use of delivery systems to exploit the full potential of RNAi therapeutics. Lipid nanoparticles (LNP) represent one of the most widely used delivery systems for in vivo application of RNAi due to their relative safety and simplicity of production, joint with the enhanced payload and protection of encapsulated RNAs. Moreover, LNP may be functionalized to reach target cells, and they may be used to combine RNAi molecules with conventional drug substances to reduce resistance or improve efficiency. This review features the current application of LNP in RNAi mediated therapy against viral infections and aims to explore possible future lines of action in this field.
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PMID:Lipid nanoparticles as carriers for RNAi against viral infections: current status and future perspectives. 2518 35