The recent pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has strongly driven the global scientific community toward the search for compounds capable of interfering with various stages of viral infection. In this context, several human cofactors belonging to the DEAD-box protein family are known to be involved in infectious processes. Through virtual screening approaches, the research group has identified compounds capable of reducing or blocking the helicase and ATPase activities of DDX1, DDX3X, and DDX5, thereby interfering with their interaction with viral proteins.
The same virtual screening approach has also allowed the identification of compounds with inhibitory activity against the SARS-CoV-2 RdRp protease nsp12, as well as other classes of compounds capable of blocking the protease activity of the West Nile virus.