Angel S. Galabov

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter Angel S. GalabovAdditional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.79160

**Abstract**

Adenoviruses occupy a substantial place as causative agents of seasonal respiratory infections, the most characteristic and severe being epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC). Moreover, adenovirus infections are very characteristic with their severe course in persons with impaired immune system. The absence of specific anti-adenovirals is the major problem, and the development of compounds effective against adenoviruses is a principal task. This chapter embraces the results of studies on search for antivirals with anti-adenovirus activity, nucleoside/nucleotide analogues and nonnucleoside compounds. Ganciclovir and cidofovir demonstrated effects against adenovirus serotypes *in vitro* and in animal ocular infection models. Cidofovir applied alone or in combination with cyclosporine manifested therapeutic effects on patients with EKC in a controlled clinical study. We characterized abitylguanide as anti-adenovirus agent in broad-scale investigations, including cell culture experiments, and in two double-blind trials with very beneficial results.

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.79160

**Keywords:** human adenoviruses, antivirals, nucleosides/nucleotides, nonnucleosides, mode of action, clinical trials
