Riding on the Flu-tails

Over at Rice University scientists have hit upon a new target in the flu wars. Antiviral research is a dense field, given that most screening isn't target specific, mostly because we know so few targets. Identifying this pocket is just the first step, though. Finding a molecule that can get down in there and disrupt the pocket as a viable drug is a whole other flu-tainted enchilada. Still, it's a big step in the right direction, and allows replicon-based screening to move forward with a much more powerful filter on potential compounds. As to whether such a pocket is a drugable target, well, that's like, a whole other flu-filled burrito, or something.