Publication date: Sep 04, 2025
Disulfiram (DSF), an FDA-approved therapeutic agent for alcohol dependence, has recently attracted considerable interest due to its broad-spectrum inhibitory effects against various viruses. Increasing evidence suggests that DSF can inhibit viral replication through two major mechanisms: the inhibition of viral protein catalytic activity and the ejection of Zn from viral proteins. This review comprehensively summarized the molecular mechanisms underlying DSF’s antiviral activity against viruses such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), hepatitis C virus (HCV), influenza virus, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpes virus (KSHV), with a particular focus on its dual targeting of Cys residues and Zn coordination sites. By synthesizing current findings and emphasizing novel insights, this review aims to provide a foundation for the development of novel antiviral therapeutic strategies and to inspire further research into the repurposing of DSF for combating viral infections.
| Concepts | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Biophys | Cys |
| Coronavirus | DSF |
| Fda | HIV |
| Immunodeficiency | SARS-CoV-2 |
| Increasing | Zinc |
Semantics
| Type | Source | Name |
|---|---|---|
| drug | DRUGBANK | Disulfiram |
| disease | MESH | alcohol dependence |
| pathway | KEGG | Viral replication |
| disease | MESH | influenza |
| disease | IDO | immunodeficiency |
| disease | MESH | Kaposi sarcoma |
| drug | DRUGBANK | L-Cysteine |
| disease | MESH | viral infections |
| drug | DRUGBANK | Zinc |