Cancer-causing viruses, also called oncoviruses, play a key role in the development of certain cancers. They contribute to genetic changes that disrupt the cell cycle machinery, interfering with functions such as cell growth. Cancer-Causing Viruses and Their Inhibitors presents a plethora of research from internationally reputed contributors who discuss different types of oncoviruses, their mechanisms of invasion and growth, and their life cycles. The book begins with an overview of the oncoviruses discovered to date and includes a brief description of their structures, genotypes, replication, and mechanisms of infection leading to cancers. It then explores several of these viruses in detail, including: Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) Hepatitis C virus (HCV) Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) Human papilloma virus (HPV) Human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8)/Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpes virus (KSHV) Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV/AIDS) Oncolytic viruses This book is an essential reference for those working in virology, oncology, and biotechnology. The discoveries presented will enable researchers and clinicians to optimize both historical and current approaches to anti-viral therapies.

Being the crucial components of living cells, ion channels are important targets of therapeutic agents. Historically, it has been challenging to develop drugs on this target class. A major issue with target based ion channel drug development is the identification of effective small chemical leads for medicinal chemistry optimization to the clinical candidate status. Thus enough attention has been paid to the study of structure and functions of ion channels and their potential inhibitors. The present book compiles important chapters authored by eminent workers in the field to cover important recent advances in the studies of the structure and functions of ion channels and their inhibitors, such as sodium ion, potassium ion, chloride ion, calcium ion channel inhibitors. The book may be of great use to the students and scientists working in the area of molecular biology, biochemistry, physiology, neurobiology, and medicinal chemistry.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are proteolytic enzymes that are involved in many physiological and pathological processes. The field of MMP research is very important due to the implications of the distinct paralogs in both human physiology and pathology. Over-activation of these enzymes results in tissue degradation, producing a wide array of disease processes such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, tumor growth and metastasis, multiple sclerosis, congestive heart failure, and others. Thus MMP inhibitors are candidates for therapeutic agents to combat a number of diseases. The present book discusses the design and development of different classes of inhibitors of important classes of MMPs, such as gelatinases and collagenases. The articles focus specifically on structure-activity relationships of all classes of compounds and on their modes of action and specificity of binding with the receptors based on experimental and theoretical studies. These studies constitute a valuable asset for all those involved in drug development.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are proteolytic enzymes that are involved in many physiological and pathological processes. The field of MMP research is very important due to the implications of the distinct paralogs in both human physiology and pathology. Over-activation of these enzymes results in tissue degradation, producing a wide array of disease processes such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, tumor growth and metastasis, multiple sclerosis, congestive heart failure, and others. Thus MMP inhibitors are candidates for therapeutic agents to combat a number of diseases. The present book discusses the design and development of different classes of inhibitors of important classes of MMPs, such as gelatinases and collagenases. The articles focus specifically on structure-activity relationships of all classes of compounds and on their modes of action and specificity of binding with the receptors based on experimental and theoretical studies. These studies constitute a valuable asset for all those involved in drug development.

Being the crucial components of living cells, ion channels are important targets of therapeutic agents. Historically, it has been challenging to develop drugs on this target class. A major issue with targets based on ion channel drug development is the identification of effective small chemical leads for medicinal chemistry optimization to the clinical candidate status. Thus enough attention has been paid to the study of structure and functions of ion channels and their potential inhibitors. The present book compiles important chapters authored by eminent workers in the field to cover important recent advances in the studies of the structure and functions of ion channels and their inhibitors, such as sodium Ion, potassium Ion, chloride Ion, calcium Ion channel inhibitors. The book may be of great use to the students and scientists working in the area of molecular biology, biochemistry, physiology, and neurobiology, and medicinal chemistry.

Viral Polymerases: Structures, Functions and Roles as Antiviral Drug Targets presents in-depth study information on the structure and functions of polymerases and their roles in the lifecycle of viruses, and as drug targets. Viral polymerases constitute a vital component in the lifecycle of many viruses, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis viruses, influenza virus, and several others. They are essentially required for the replication of viruses. Thus, the polymerases that can be found in viruses (called viral polymerases) represent favorable targets for the design and development of antiviral drugs.

Viral Proteases and Their Inhibitors provides a thorough examination of viral proteases from their molecular components, to therapeutic applications. As information on three dimensional structures and biological functions of these viral proteases become known, unexpected protein folds and unique mechanisms of proteolysis are realized. This book investigates how this facilitates the design and development of potent antiviral agents used against life-threatening viruses. Users will find descriptions of each virus that detail the structure and function of viral proteases, discuss the design and development of inhibitors, and analyze the structure-activity relationships of inhibitors. This book is ideal biochemists, virologists and those working on antiviral agents.

Studies on Hepatitis Viruses: Life Cycle, Structure, Functions, and Inhibition presents the latest on this systemic infection that predominantly affects the liver with inflammation that can be acute or chronic. Hepatitis viruses have been the subject of intense study in the last twenty years, with a wealth of information related to their lifecycle, structure, functions and inhibition being presented. This book compiles the most important developments and research, giving users a very useful guide on this evolving area of virology and medicinal chemistry.

Cancer-causing viruses, also called oncoviruses, play a key role in the development of certain cancers. They contribute to genetic changes that disrupt the cell cycle machinery, interfering with functions such as cell growth. Cancer-Causing Viruses and Their Inhibitors presents a plethora of research from internationally reputed contributors who discuss different types of oncoviruses, their mechanisms of invasion and growth, and their life cycles. The book begins with an overview of the oncoviruses discovered to date and includes a brief description of their structures, genotypes, replication, and mechanisms of infection leading to cancers. It then explores several of these viruses in detail, including: Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) Hepatitis C virus (HCV) Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) Human papilloma virus (HPV) Human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8)/Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpes virus (KSHV) Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV/AIDS) Oncolytic viruses This book is an essential reference for those working in virology, oncology, and biotechnology. The discoveries presented will enable researchers and clinicians to optimize both historical and current approaches to anti-viral therapies.