Viruses cause human diseases by entering in to human cells. Many drugs have been developed that act at various stages of viral infection, but they fail due to their toxic side effects and high mutation rates of viruses. Recently, a new class of drugs called entry inhibitors has been developed which acts on the early stages of viral infection. These drugs have been developed by studying the entry process of viruses in to host cells. The success of these drugs, however, is still limited and research is being done to quantify the optimum dosage of these drugs and find new drugs targets. We developed a mathematical model based on chemical reaction kinetics to estimate the threshold number of complexes between viral and target cell surface proteins necessary for HIV-1 entry into target cells. Our model quantitatively describes data of HIV entry in the presence of several entry inhibitors and presents an avenue for identifying optimal drug levels for restricting HIV entry. Majority of viruses enter into host cells by either endocytosis of fusion. But when virus enters through endocytosis and when through fusion is still not clear. We developed a theory that predicts the virus entry pathway based on the underlying biophysical properties like membrane bending modulus, viral and cellular receptor concentration and the energy released by the formation of protein complexes. Through this theory of viruses we presented the entry of viruses through fusion or endocytosis on a phase diagram. We validated the phase diagram by comparing it with known pathways of existing viruses. This study may aid in unraveling the entry pathways of new viruses and may also help in identifying new drug targets.

Le travail de recherche présenté dans ce mémoire de thèse a été centré sur une nouvelle famille de flavones aux propriétés antivirales. Mon travail de thèse avait pour premier objectif d'améliorer la synthèse de la ladanéine (tête de série) et permettre l'accès à d’autres analogues. Un développement méthodologique a permis de mettre au point une synthèse compatible avec les procédés industriels qui permette d'améliorer les rendements et de raccourcir significativement les délais d'obtention. De plus, aucune purification par colonne de silice n’est nécessaire. Une étude physico-chimique détaillée a ensuite été menée. Les propriétés acido-basiques de la série de composés ont d'abord été évaluées avant l'étude des propriétés électrochimiques. Ces données sont déterminantes pour une meilleure compréhension du mécanisme d'action de ces flavones. La complexation au Fe(III) a été également démontrée comme essentielle pour l’activité antivirale de ces composés. Les propriétés de complexation de ce cation ont donc été étudiées et ont apporté des informations importantes. Finalement, dans le but d’améliorer les propriétés pharmacocinétiques de ces agents virucides, des formulations originales avec le Mg(II), cation biocompatible, ont été élaborées et étudiées. / The research work presented in this manuscript was centered on a novel flavone series displaying potent antiviral activities toward enveloped viruses such as HCV. The first goal of my research work was to improve the synthesis of ladanein (the lead antiviral compound) and to allow an easy access to a broad range of analogues. A methodological approach allowed setting up a synthetic route compatible with industrial processes with high yields and significantly shortened preparation time. Furthermore, no silica gel column chromatography was needed throughout the synthetic route. A thorough physico-chemical study was then undertaken. The acido-basic properties of this homogenous series of compounds were first evaluated prior to the investigation of their electrochemical parameters. These data are essential for a deeper understanding of the mechanism of action of these polyphenolic compounds. Fe(III) was shown to be essential for the antiviral activity of these compounds and, hence, the Fe(III) complexation properties of the flavones have been studied and provided important information. Last but not least, in order to improve the pharmacokinetic properties of the flavones, original formulation approaches using the biocompatible Mg(II) cation were undertaken and thoroughly investigated.