Lay summary
Endemic and novel viral diseases have caused death and significant suffering to humans and animals throughout evolution. Fortunately, modern medicine has delivered treatments and cures to alleviate this suffering and prevent countless deaths. However, despite the success of small molecule antiviral therapies, resistance development to these drugs necessitates the design of more robust versions of these medicines. This research aims to explore the specific mechanism of action of a completely new class of antiviral. This will enable the design of broad-spectrum antiviral drugs that are potent, non-toxic and robust to resistance development that can be used in the wake of forthcoming pandemics and to treat viral infections that threaten the lives and health and wellbeing of all of Aotearoa New Zealand.