Structural requirements for antiviral activity in nucleosides

The discovery of several new series of nucleoside analogues with antiviral activity has altered the classical way of thinking about nucleoside analogues as antiviral agents. Modelling studies and conformational analysis have entered the arena and contributed to our knowledge of the mode of action. New lead structures have uncovered previously unknown targets for antiviral drug design, which may be exploited in the future to discover more potent and less toxic antiviral nucleosides with, eventually, a broad spectrum of activity. This review summarizes some of the new directions that have been taken by industrial and academic researchers in their effort to find the ideal antiviral nucleoside.