oligomeric nucleic acids as antivirals寡聚核酸作为抗病毒药物.pdfVIP

Molecules 2011, 16, 1271-1296; doi:10.3390/molecule OPEN ACCESS molecules ISSN 1420-3049 /journal/molecules Review Oligomeric Nucleic Acids as Antivirals Alessandra Mescalchin and Tobias Restle * Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Lübeck, Center for Structural and Cell Biology in Medicine (CSCM), Ratzeburger Allee 160, D-23538 Lübeck, Germany * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: restle@imm.uni-luebeck.de; Tel.: +49-451-5002745; Fax: +49-451-5002731. Received: 20 December 2010; in revised form: 12 January 2011 / Accepted: 25 January 2011 / Published: 28 January 2011 Abstract: Based on the natural functions and chemical characteristics of nucleic acids, a variety of novel synthetic drugs and tools to explore biological systems have become available in recent years. To date, a great number of antisense oligonucleotides, RNA interference-based tools, CpG-containing oligonucleotides, catalytic oligonucleotides, decoys and aptamers has been produced synthetically and applied successfully for understanding and manipulating biological processes and in clinical trials to treat a variety of diseases. Their versatility and potency make them equally suited candidates for fighting viral infections. Here, we describe the different types of nucleic acid-based antivirals, their mechanism of action, their advantages and limitations, and their future prospects. Keywords: therapeutics; viruses; inhib