Interfering with Nucleic Acid Synthesis: Recent Progress of Nucleoside and Nucleotide Analogues in Anti-viral Treatment

Abstract

Nucleoside/nucleotide analogues are a group of drugs that interfere with the synthesis of DNA or RNA, and have been used for anti-viral treatment for decades. Their importance is self-evident due to their ubiquitous mechanism of action, especially as we today face the challenge of COVID-19 pandemic. Here we review recent studies regarding nucleoside/nucleotide analogues in HIV, HBV, HCV, herpes and influenza virus infection, as well as the emerging SARS-CoV-2 infection, so as to shed light its current status of usage, and also to project the anti-viral strategy in the future.