Cascade search for HSV-1 combinatorial drugs with high antiviral efficacy and low toxicity

BACKGROUND Infectious diseases cause many molecular assemblies and pathways within cellular signaling networks to function aberrantly. The most effective way to treat complex, diseased cellular networks is to apply multiple drugs that attack the problem from many fronts. However, determining the optimal combination of several drugs at specific dosages to reach an endpoint objective is a daunting task. METHODS In this study, we applied an experimental feedback system control (FSC) method and rapidly identified optimal drug combinations that inhibit herpes simplex virus-1 infection, by only testing less than 0.1% of the total possible drug combinations. RESULTS Using antiviral efficacy as the criterion, FSC quickly identified a highly efficacious drug cocktail. This cocktail contained high dose ribavirin. Ribavirin, while being an effective antiviral drug, often induces toxic side effects that are not desirable in a therapeutic drug combination. To screen for less toxic drug combinations, we applied a second FSC search in cascade and used both high antiviral efficacy and low toxicity as criteria. Surprisingly, the new drug combination eliminated the need for ribavirin, but still blocked viral infection in nearly 100% of cases. CONCLUSION This cascade search provides a versatile platform for rapid discovery of new drug combinations that satisfy multiple criteria.