Targeting virus-interacting host ion channels as a novel antiviral strategy

Ion channels are transmembrane protein complexes that control ion transport across the membranes and play a pivotal role for maintaining cellular homeostasis as well as in virus–host interactions. As obligate parasites, viruses hijack the host’s ion channel network with spatiotemporal precision to drive their life cycle. In this review, we summarize the key function of ion channels in this dynamic interplay. We then delve into the ways by which different ion channel types facilitate discrete stages of viral infection, including entry, genome release, replication, assembly, and release. By examining dynamic changes in ion channel activity during infection, we reveal how viruses manipulate host ion channels to regulate their life cycle. Moreover, the clinical potential of targeting host ion channels as an innovative antiviral strategy is highlighted. The objective of this review is to comprehensively elucidate host ion channel-virus interactions, as well as the potential of existing ion channel modulators as antiviral drugs, laying the theoretical foundation for the development of novel antiviral therapies.