Regulators of innate immunity as novel targets for panviral therapeutics

Interferons (IFNs) have long been used as an immunomodulatory therapy for a large array of acute and chronic viral infections. However, IFN therapies have been plagued by severe side effects. The discovery of pathogen recognition receptors (PRR) rejuvenated the interest for immunomodulatory therapies. The successes obtained with Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists in activating immune cells and as adjuvant for prophylactic vaccines against different viruses paved the way to targeted immunomodulatory therapy. Better characterization of pathogen-induced immune disorders and newly discovered regulators of innate immunity have now the potential to specifically withdraw prevailing subversion mechanisms and to transform antiviral treatments by introducing panviral therapeutics with less adverse effects than IFN therapies.

► IFN therapies have been plagued by severe side effects. ► Discovery of PRRs rejuvenated interest for immunomodulatory therapies. ► Panviral therapeutics will target key regulators of innate immune responses. ► Future targeted immunomodulatory therapies will reduce side effects. ► Panviral therapeutics in combination with DAAs to achieve viral eradication.