We do know that Zika virus is causing a pandemic problem that causes microcephaly on newborns. Now upon looking at several websites regarding zika virus, there are certain ways to stop the spread but also dangerous like using Ribavirin which inhibits the synthesis of viral RNA but small dosage can cause birth defects as well as to cause . Will there be a way to find out what other receptors or is there any other receptors it carry other than the E glycoprotein which also carries the function of cell to cell communication on this enveloped virus?
It seems unlikely right now that a good antiviral will be developed for Zika virus. There has been no breakthrough with yellow fever, dengue, Japanese encephalitis, or West Nile and these kill or seriously injure a large number of people and have been studied for more than 100 years in some cases. That and the fact that the concern for Zika seems to be in women of an early trimester that administering a antiviral drug during the most sensitive time in fetal development might not be the route that is most medically appealing.
For now it is highly unlikely to develop an effective drug against zika, This has to do with it low morbidity and mortality among most of those infected. More focus will be on prevention than cure, so developing and effective vaccination and or preventive measures are more on the agenda than looking for cure. Also if we look at other similar viral infection such as dengue, chikingunya etc, which are more fatal, there are still no effective antiviral for them
As well as our experience with similar viruses such as Dengue, Yellow Fevre, West Nile and Japanese encephalitis, it seems unlike to have a new antiviral agent. Differently of the similar diseases, Zika Fever is asymptomatic in roughly 80% of infected subjects. Major concerns
The receptor AXL seemed to have worked in vitro but not in vivo via AXL KO mice.
You can find here an example of a FDA-approved compound (novobiocin) that our group has repurposed as potent in-vitro and in-vivo Zika virus inhibitor:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/318363056_Structure-based_discovery_of_clinically_approved_drugs_as_Zika_virus_NS2B-NS3_protease_inhibitors_that_potently_inhibit_Zika_virus_infection_in_vitro_and_in_vivo
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0166354217301754
Also, our web server for blind docking calculations can be of help in this context:
https://bio-hpc.ucam.edu/achilles
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