#antiviral

www.nature.com

Antiviral defence is a conserved function of diverse bacterial DNA glycosylases

Loenen, W. A. M., Dryden, D. T. F., Raleigh, E. A., Wilson, G. G. & Murray, N. E. Highlights of the DNA cutters: a short history of the restriction enzymes. Nucleic Acids Res. 42, 3–19 (2014). Georjon, H. & Bernheim, A. The highly diverse antiphage defence systems of bacteria. Nat. Rev. Microbiol. 21, 686–700 (2023). Makarova, K. S. et al. Evolutionary classification of CRISPR–Cas systems: a burst of class 2 and derived variants. Nat. Rev. Microbiol. 18, 67–83 (2020). Wang, C., Shen, Z., Yang, X.-Y. & Fu, T.-M. Structures and functions of short argonautes. RNA Biol. 21, 883–889 (2024). Vassallo, C. N., Doering, C. R., Littlehale, M. L., Teodoro, G. I. C. & Laub, M. T. A functional selection reveals previously undetected anti-phage defence systems in the E. colipangenome. Nat. Microbiol. 7, 1568–1579 (2022). Rodriguez-Rodriguez, L. et al. Metagenomic selections reveal diverse antiphage defenses in human and environmental microbiomes. Cell Host Microbe 33, 1381–1395.e7 (2025). Cui, Y. et al. Bacterial Hachiman complex executes DNA cleavage for antiphage defense. Nat. Commun. 16, 2604 (2025). Tuck, O. T. et al. Genome integrity sensing by the broad-spectrum Hachiman antiphage defense complex. Cell 187, 6914–6928.e20 (2024). Gu, Y. et al. Bacterial Shedu immune nucleases...

etidiohnew.blogspot.com

etidiohnew.blogspot.com

Synergistic #antiviral effect of #Asunaprevir and #Ribavirin in combination against Murray Valley #Encephalitis Virus replication

medicalxpress.com

Oral antiviral blocks airborne measles-like virus spread in ferret model

A new oral antiviral drug candidate, administered either before or after direct-contact or airborne exposure to canine distemper virus, which causes measles-like disease in ferrets, blocks virus…

www.nature.com

The Dendritic Cell-based Vaccine PROTEXI leverages Antiviral CD4 T cell Memory to boost anti-tumor immune responses in mice

To interrogate the potential of the PROTEXI platform to induce effective tumor suppression, we prepared bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDC) expressing maturation markers significantly increased on the BMDC surface which include CD80, CD86, and MHC-II and secreting inflammatory cytokines, IL-12 and TNF, essential for T cell proliferation (Supplementary Fig. 1). The MHC class II (I-Ab)-restricted OVA323-339 peptide, used as a surrogate for CD4+T-restricted COVID-19 epitopes, was loaded onto mature BMDC together with MHC class I (H-2K)-restricted tumor-associated antigens (TAA): M30-11 and/or Trp2 (Trp2188-196)21,22, (peptide sequences can be found in Supplementary Table 1). The M30-11 neoantigen was identified by B16F10 mutanome mapping and stimulates a CD8+ T response16,21. The functional competence of PROTEXI, fully loaded with both CD4⁺ and CD8⁺T cell peptides, was demonstrated by assessing the capacity of PROTEXI to stimulate T cells, comparable to that of BMDC pulsed with either individual CD4⁺ or CD8⁺T cell-specific peptides (Supplementary Fig. 2). In addition, we confirmed that PROTEXI, consisting of peptide-pulsed DC (CD45.1⁺), retained migratory capacity and preferentially homed to the draining lymph nodes (dLN) of recipient mice (CD45.2⁺), where they were detected as CD45.1⁺CD4⁺CD11c⁺ cells, comprising ~1–3% of total lymph node leukocytes. (Supplementary Fig. 3). To examine the functional improvement of...

en.killbait.com

Experimental Antiviral Shows Promise in Preventing Measles Transmission

Researchers at Georgia State University have developed an experimental oral antiviral, GHP-88310, which successfully blocked measles-like virus transmission in ferrets through both close contact and airborne routes. The drug, a broad-spectrum inhibitor of the viral polymerase, reduced symptoms and shortened the contagious period when administered before or after exposure. Published in Nature Microbiology, the study focused on canine distemper virus, which mimics measles in ferrets. The findings suggest the antiviral could complement traditional vaccination strategies to control outbreaks. Measles has reemerged in North America since 2025, causing significant infections and deaths, prompting concerns about maintaining elimination status. The drug's ability to prevent airborne transmission in a ferret model is unprecedented for viral polymerase inhibitors. Researchers are preparing for clinical trials, with support from the National Institutes of Health. The study highlights potential benefits for reducing quarantine burdens and improving outbreak management.

www.sciencedaily.com

A new antiviral could stop measles before an outbreak takes off

The findings, published in Nature Microbiology, come from scientists at the Center for Translational Antiviral Research (CTAR). Their work focused on canine distemper virus, which produces a disease in ferrets that closely resembles measles. Antiviral Blocks Two Routes of Transmission The researchers tested a recently developed drug candidate called GHP-88310 (described in Science Advances). The medication is a broad-spectrum inhibitor of the viral polymerase, an enzyme the virus needs in order to reproduce. The team examined whether prophylactic (shortly before or after exposure) use of the drug could prevent transmission through direct contact or shared air. GHP-88310 successfully blocked both forms of spread. When the drug was used to treat animals that were already infected, it also reduced the length of time they remained capable of transmitting the virus. "Silencing measles outbreaks quickly is essential to reestablish control over the virus," said senior author Richard Plemper, a Regents' Professor and director of the CTAR. "This study follows our recent development of the drug candidate GHP-88310. It demonstrates that the drug is suitable to augment traditional ring vaccination against measles." Measles Outbreaks Return Across North America Measles has reemerged in the United States since 2025, causing thousands of infections across several...

www.news-medical.net

ddPCR and NGS for viral surveillance in antiviral drug development

In this interview, Meredith Landry (Managing Editor, Citeline) speaks with Chris Forsdyke (Head of Laboratory Services, hVIVO), Martin Larke (Principal NGS Biostatistician, hVIVO), Francesca Manni (Territory Account Manager, Illumina, and Chelsea Pratt (Biopharma Segment Marketing Manager, Bio-Rad Laboratories) about how droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) and next-generation sequencing (NGS) can be combined for viral surveillance across antiviral drug development, from sensitive detection and quantification through to whole-genome sequencing and host-response profiling. To start, what role does molecular biology play in hVIVO’s infectious disease trials, and what were you hoping to cover in this session? Chris: At hVIVO, our molecular biology analytical strategy is critical in this space. We work closely with both Bio-Rad and Illumina, and we put their latest technology and software to use to reduce turnaround times, analytical costs, and sample volumes, while also expanding the data we can collect from highly valuable clinical trial samples. The goal here isn’t just to talk about new lab platforms. It’s also to give a clear view of where these technologies fit in clinical development. No two projects are the same, and building the right molecular tools, along with the associated analytical and data workflow, matters whether you’re analyzing small or large...