Scientific Reports - An exploratory binding study of molnupiravir efficacy against emerging Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variants

The nucleoside analog β-D-N4-hydroxycytidine is the active metabolite of the prodrug molnupiravir and is accepted as an efficient drug against COVID-19. Molnupiravir targets the RNA-dependent RNA poly...

Scientific Reports - An exploratory binding study of molnupiravir efficacy against emerging Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variants

YouTube video by Emory University

AbstractObjectives. To extend the PyCox to accommodate time-varying covariates using counting process data, addressing immortal time bias in survival analy

Background Early oral antiviral treatment reduced disease progression and hospitalisation in high-risk COVID-19 outpatients. In practice, prescribing decisions ...

Dengue virus (DENV) and chikungunya virus (CHIKV) remain major global health threats, yet approved antiviral therapies are lacking. Antiviral sugar baits (AVSBs) represent a novel transmission-blocking strategy that exploits the natural sugar-feeding behaviour of mosquitoes to deliver antiviral compounds directly to the mosquito vector. In this study, we evaluated the antiviral efficacy of AVSBs containing JNJ-A07, {beta}-D-N4-hydroxycytidine (NHC), molnupiravir (MPV), and 4'-fluorouridine (4'FlU) in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. An ex vivo mosquito gut model was used to select antiviral concentrations and to assess the ability of 4'FlU to reach the mosquito midgut following sugar feeding. AVSBs were subsequently evaluated for their effects on mosquito attractiveness, longevity, fecundity, and fertility, as well as their ability to suppress DENV and CHIKV infection in vivo. 4'FlU potently inhibited CHIKV replication in ex vivo mosquito guts and retained antiviral activity following sugar-bait administration. None of the antiviral compounds affected mosquito attraction to the bait, while only modest and compound-specific effects on mosquito fitness were observed. AVSBs containing JNJ-A07 significantly reduced DENV infection and dissemination, whereas 4'FlU-containing AVSBs significantly reduced CHIKV infection and viral loads. In contrast, NHC- and MPV-containing AVSBs did not exhibit antiviral activity in vivo. Collectively, these findings provide proof-of-concept for AVSBs as a novel strategy to reduce arbovirus transmission by targeting viral replication within the mosquito vector, suggesting that AVSBs could complement existing arbovirus control measures.

Dengue virus (DENV) and chikungunya virus (CHIKV) remain major global health threats, yet approved antiviral therapies are lacking. Antiviral sugar baits (AVSBs) represent a novel transmission-blocking strategy that exploits the natural sugar-feeding behaviour of mosquitoes to deliver antiviral compounds directly to the mosquito vector. In this study, we evaluated the antiviral efficacy of AVSBs containing JNJ-A07, {beta}-D-N4-hydroxycytidine (NHC), molnupiravir (MPV), and 4'-fluorouridine (4'FlU) in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. An ex vivo mosquito gut model was used to select antiviral concentrations and to assess the ability of 4'FlU to reach the mosquito midgut following sugar feeding. AVSBs were subsequently evaluated for their effects on mosquito attractiveness, longevity, fecundity, and fertility, as well as their ability to suppress DENV and CHIKV infection in vivo. 4'FlU potently inhibited CHIKV replication in ex vivo mosquito guts and retained antiviral activity following sugar-bait administration. None of the antiviral compounds affected mosquito attraction to the bait, while only modest and compound-specific effects on mosquito fitness were observed. AVSBs containing JNJ-A07 significantly reduced DENV infection and dissemination, whereas 4'FlU-containing AVSBs significantly reduced CHIKV infection and viral loads. In contrast, NHC- and MPV-containing AVSBs did not exhibit antiviral activity in vivo. Collectively, these findings provide proof-of-concept for AVSBs as a novel strategy to reduce arbovirus transmission by targeting viral replication within the mosquito vector, suggesting that AVSBs could complement existing arbovirus control measures.

Micropollutants such as pharmaceuticals that are released into the environment after wastewater treatment may have a severe impact on organisms in the aquatic environment. Especially ecotoxicological ...

Un communiqué de presse émis à Chennai, le 25 septembre 2025, par BeWell Hospitals, n'a rien d'anodin. Sous couvert de coopération scientifique internationale, il révèle l'intention d'implémenter à Maurice des thérapies cellulaires dites innovantes, notamment une immunothérapie par cellules Natural Killer (NK), inspirée de protocoles appliqués au Japon.

Helicase-driven copy-back RNA synthesis in coronaviruses reveals how antivirals trap replication intermediates.

Study finds evidence virus can survive treatment with molnupiravir, leading to mutated versions that sometimes spread

Merck is in discussions with various global health authorities about making its COVID antiviral pill molnupiravir available as an ​Ebola treatment to address the widening outbreak in the Democratic Re...