Antiviral strategies against human metapneumovirus: Targeting the fusion protein

Human metapneumovirus is an important global cause for respiratory tract infections in infants, the elderly, and immunocompromised people.• There are currently neither approved vaccines nor specific antiviral treatments to prevent or treat HMPV infections.• Fusion (F) protein plays an essential role in the HMPV lifecycle, making it an attractive antiviral drug target.• Novel therapeutic strategies against HMPV have focused on broad-spectrum antiviral drug repurposing and HMPV F-direct strategies.