Summary
An increasing understanding of genetics has uncovered new targets for antiviral drug treatments.
Although still in the very early stages, scientists say they may be able to develop drug treatments which can be used against a range of viruses.
At present antiviral drugs are very specific, usually attacking just one virus.
However the research which Kevin Fong examines in this edition of Discovery suggests 'broad spectrum antivirals', drugs capable of curing all viral infections from the common cold to HIV, may be with us in a few years time.
Such drugs could revolutionise medicine dealing a blow to viruses in much the same way as the invention of antibiotics did to bacterial infections over the last century.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Just before this BBC podcast gets underway, here's something you may not know. |
| 0:04.7 | My name's Linda Davies and I Commission Podcasts for BBC Sounds. |
| 0:08.5 | As you'd expect, at the BBC we make podcasts of the very highest quality featuring the most knowledgeable experts and genuinely engaging voices. |
| 0:18.0 | What you may not know is that the BBC makes podcasts about all kinds of things like pop stars, |
| 0:24.6 | poltergeist, cricket, and conspiracy theories and that's just a few examples. |
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| 0:35.4 | Sounds. |
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| 0:41.1 | The flicking through. The endless searching is a nightmare. We want to help you. On our |
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| 0:50.3 | Cladie aider. Load to games, loads of fun, loads of screaming, lovely. |
| 0:55.0 | Off the telly with me Joanna Paige and me, Natalie Cassidy, |
| 0:59.0 | so your evenings can be a little less searching |
| 1:02.0 | and a lot more watching listen on BBC |
| 1:04.7 | sounds choosing what to watch night after night the flicking through the |
| 1:12.3 | endless searching is a nightmare. |
| 1:14.0 | We want to help you. |
| 1:16.0 | On our brand new podcast off the telly we share what we've been watching. |
| 1:20.0 | Cladie Aidea! |
| 1:22.0 | Load to games, loads of fun, loads of screaming. |
| 1:24.5 | Lovely. |
... |
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