Use of X-Ray Crystallography in the Design of Antiviral Agents

Book excerpt: Use of X-Ray Crystallography in the Design of Antiviral Agents describes materials presented at an International Workshop held in Kona, Hawaii on February 6-8, 1989, which discussed the use of X-ray crystallography in the design of antiviral agents. This book focuses on the approach that determines the three-dimensional structures of viruses and virus proteins with biological activity, such as computer molecular modeling. The three-dimensional structures of a number of immune complexes that involve complexes of antigen with antibodies or peptide antigens complexed with an MHC molecule are also deliberated. This text emphasizes that the three-dimensional structures allow the rational design of virus replication inhibitors that control virus infections in man and economically important domestic animals. This publication is a good reference for pharmacists, biochemists, and clinicians researching on the design of antiviral agents.