Broad Spectrum Antiviral Medication: LJ001

By Cyrus E. Kuschner and Jukie Tsai

Filoviridae Poxvirus

Arena Virus Flaviviridae

Viral Characteristics

• Two Types of Viruseso Non-envelopedo Lipid-enveloped

HiV-1 Influenza A Ebola AIDS Hemorrhagic fever Rift Valley fever

History of Broad Spectrum Antiviral Medication

• Current Broad Spectrum viral medications exist• All past attempts to target broad characteristics have

been inefficiento Ribavirin

Limited to very specific number of viruseso a - interferon

Has Significant side effectsAttacks the RNA and DNA replication

Extremely expensive

A New Medication

• Compound is derived from rhodanine• Dubbed LJ001

• Targets the lipid membrane of all cellso Metabolically active cells are able to repair the

membrane's damageo Static viral membranes have no inherent regenerative

capacityDamage created by LJ001 is permanent and

irreversible• Current testing on Mice has confirmed its protective

value against Ebola and Rift Valley fever virus

LJ001's Potential

• Offers a single cure for a multitude of current viruses• Broad method of targeting cells allows LJ001 to

continue to effectively kill viruses even after multiple mutations

Works Cited

http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-02/lj001-acts-antibiotics-viruses

Rivero, Enrique. "Researchers find 'broad spectrum' antiviral that fights multitude of viruses."www.eurekalert.org. 01/02/2010. Eurekalert, Web. 2 Feb 2010. <http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-02/uoc--rf020110.php#>.