Pub Date : 2025-11-20DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2025.106312
Denis Pasqual , Ilaria Artusi , Michele Paccagnella , Giulia Sibille , Mattia Mirandola , Sofia Appelberg , Maria Francesca Priore , Maira Zorzan , Massimo E. Maffei , Paola De Benedictis , Claudia Del Vecchio , Alì Mirazimi , Giorgio Cozza , Giorgio Gribaudo , Cristiano Salata
The Ebola virus (EBOV) and the Rabies virus (RABV) are deadly infectious agents impacting human and animal health. Current prevention and control strategies mainly rely on vaccines and antibodies, highlighting the urgent need for effective, low-cost antivirals suitable for therapeutic options. Plant-derived bioactive compounds offer a promising natural source for such candidate antivirals. As a contribution to this antiviral approach, we have characterized the anti-EBOV and anti-RABV activity of a Cranberry extract (CE) endowed with a very high content of bioactive A2-type proanthocyanidin (PAC-A2). The CE inhibited the in vitro infection of both pseudoviruses expressing EBOV-GP or RABV-G glycoproteins and authentic EBOV and RABV. Attachment and entry assays revealed that the extract targets early phases of infection preventing attachment and entry. Noteworthy, synthetic PAC-A2 reproduced the antiviral activity observed with the whole CE. Mechanistic studies then revealed that the CE interacted directly with the ectodomain of EBOV-GP or the RABV-G, suggesting interference with their functions. In support to this hypothesis, fluorescence spectroscopy analysis showed a reduction in intrinsic fluorescence of both EBOV-GP and RABV-G after incubation with synthetic PAC-A2, thus confirming a direct interaction of the viral glycoproteins with PAC-A2. In silico docking simulations further sustained in vitro results by predicting the binding of PAC-A2 into the binding pocket of EBOV-GP and to the trimeric architecture of RABV-G.
Together, these results suggest this cranberry extract and bioactive PAC-A2 as potential candidates to be further develop as novel antiviral agents for the prevention of EBOV and RABV infections.
{"title":"The natural polyphenol proanthocyanidin A2 prevents the in vitro infection of Ebola virus and rabies virus by interfering with the early phases of the replication cycle","authors":"Denis Pasqual , Ilaria Artusi , Michele Paccagnella , Giulia Sibille , Mattia Mirandola , Sofia Appelberg , Maria Francesca Priore , Maira Zorzan , Massimo E. Maffei , Paola De Benedictis , Claudia Del Vecchio , Alì Mirazimi , Giorgio Cozza , Giorgio Gribaudo , Cristiano Salata","doi":"10.1016/j.antiviral.2025.106312","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.antiviral.2025.106312","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Ebola virus (EBOV) and the Rabies virus (RABV) are deadly infectious agents impacting human and animal health. Current prevention and control strategies mainly rely on vaccines and antibodies, highlighting the urgent need for effective, low-cost antivirals suitable for therapeutic options. Plant-derived bioactive compounds offer a promising natural source for such candidate antivirals. As a contribution to this antiviral approach, we have characterized the anti-EBOV and anti-RABV activity of a Cranberry extract (CE) endowed with a very high content of bioactive A2-type proanthocyanidin (PAC-A2). The CE inhibited the <em>in vitro</em> infection of both pseudoviruses expressing EBOV-GP or RABV-G glycoproteins and authentic EBOV and RABV. Attachment and entry assays revealed that the extract targets early phases of infection preventing attachment and entry. Noteworthy, synthetic PAC-A2 reproduced the antiviral activity observed with the whole CE. Mechanistic studies then revealed that the CE interacted directly with the ectodomain of EBOV-GP or the RABV-G, suggesting interference with their functions. In support to this hypothesis, fluorescence spectroscopy analysis showed a reduction in intrinsic fluorescence of both EBOV-GP and RABV-G after incubation with synthetic PAC-A2, thus confirming a direct interaction of the viral glycoproteins with PAC-A2. <em>In silico</em> docking simulations further sustained <em>in vitro</em> results by predicting the binding of PAC-A2 into the binding pocket of EBOV-GP and to the trimeric architecture of RABV-G.</div><div>Together, these results suggest this cranberry extract and bioactive PAC-A2 as potential candidates to be further develop as novel antiviral agents for the prevention of EBOV and RABV infections.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8259,"journal":{"name":"Antiviral research","volume":"244 ","pages":"Article 106312"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145576257","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-20DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2025.106310
Deyao Li , Yuxin Song , Danjuan Lu , Yanhua Zhang , Chenxiao Qu , Guiwen Guan , Yuexi Ma , Tianhao Mao , Liwei Zheng , Yi Wang , Wenhui Song , Ting Zhang , Fengmin Lu , Jing Ning , Xiangmei Chen
Elucidation of the regulation mechanism of hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication will provide potential targets for the development of novel anti-HBV therapeutics. It has been reported that the N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification of HBV RNA plays a crucial role in the HBV life cycle. However, the mechanisms underlying the regulation of this modification remain incompletely understood. In this study, combining loss- and gain-of-function genetic analyses, we defined the role of IGF2BP1, an m6A reader, in facilitating HBV replication. Mechanistic studies revealed that IGF2BP1 stabilizes HBV RNAs primarily by binding to m6A-modified A1907 sites through its KH3-4 domain, thereby enhancing viral replication. Furthermore, targeted inhibition of IGF2BP1 by Cucurbitacin B, a small molecule inhibitor of IGF2BP1, was shown to inhibit HBV replication in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, these findings identify IGF2BP1 as a critical host regulator of HBV RNA stability through an m6A-dependent manner and targeted inhibition of IGF2BP1 effectively attenuates viral replication, providing a promising strategy for anti-HBV drug development.
{"title":"Targeted inhibition of IGF2BP1 effectively suppresses HBV replication via an m6A-dependent manner","authors":"Deyao Li , Yuxin Song , Danjuan Lu , Yanhua Zhang , Chenxiao Qu , Guiwen Guan , Yuexi Ma , Tianhao Mao , Liwei Zheng , Yi Wang , Wenhui Song , Ting Zhang , Fengmin Lu , Jing Ning , Xiangmei Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.antiviral.2025.106310","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.antiviral.2025.106310","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Elucidation of the regulation mechanism of hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication will provide potential targets for the development of novel anti-HBV therapeutics. It has been reported that the N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification of HBV RNA plays a crucial role in the HBV life cycle. However, the mechanisms underlying the regulation of this modification remain incompletely understood. In this study, combining loss- and gain-of-function genetic analyses, we defined the role of IGF2BP1, an m6A reader, in facilitating HBV replication. Mechanistic studies revealed that IGF2BP1 stabilizes HBV RNAs primarily by binding to m6A-modified A1907 sites through its KH3-4 domain, thereby enhancing viral replication. Furthermore, targeted inhibition of IGF2BP1 by Cucurbitacin B, a small molecule inhibitor of IGF2BP1, was shown to inhibit HBV replication <em>in vitro</em> and <em>in vivo</em>. Taken together, these findings identify IGF2BP1 as a critical host regulator of HBV RNA stability through an m6A-dependent manner and targeted inhibition of IGF2BP1 effectively attenuates viral replication, providing a promising strategy for anti-HBV drug development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8259,"journal":{"name":"Antiviral research","volume":"245 ","pages":"Article 106310"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145581632","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hepatitis D virus (HDV) is a small RNA virus that requires Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) for its envelope. Eight genotypes with more than 80 % sequence homology and many subgenotypes have been described. Worldwide prevalence of chronic hepatitis delta (CHD) is estimated at about 5 % of chronic hepatitis B cases, translating to 15–20 million individuals. The diagnosis of HDV infection involves presence of antibodies to hepatitis D antigen (anti-HDV antibodies). Anti-HDV total antibody indicates HDV exposure (not infection). To document infection; the patient needs to undergo PCR testing and only if PCR is positive should the diagnosis of HDV ongoing infection done. Testing for the antibodies should be performed in all HBsAg-positive persons. CHD is more severe and progressive than HBV mono-infection, with a higher risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), transplantation and death. Pegylated interferon-alpha (pegIFN-a) has been used for treating CHD with only limited durable responses. A 48-week course of weekly subcutaneous injections of pegIFN-a suppresses HDV replication in approximately 20–30 % of patients 24 weeks off therapy, with significant side effects. Bulevirtide (BLV) was approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in 2020 for CHD and compensated liver disease. Since its approval, real-life data on the use of BLV have been accumulating, with most treated patients in Europe having advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis. Real life data efficacy is concordant to that seen in clinical trials, with many patients achieving significant reductions in HDV RNA levels and ALT normalization after several months of treatment, and favorable safety. However, HBsAg loss is relatively rare. Finite therapy of BLV, in combination with pegIFN-a, leads to significant durable response, with more than 30 % of patients achieving HDV RNA undetectability off therapy. We need new finite therapies. Further real-world data and newer therapies are required for this severe disease.
{"title":"Bulevirtide for chronic hepatitis delta: from clinical trials to real life data: an expert opinion report","authors":"Tarik Asselah , Homie Razavi , Hélène Fontaine , Kosh Agarwal","doi":"10.1016/j.antiviral.2025.106311","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.antiviral.2025.106311","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hepatitis D virus (HDV) is a small RNA virus that requires Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) for its envelope. Eight genotypes with more than 80 % sequence homology and many subgenotypes have been described. Worldwide prevalence of chronic hepatitis delta (CHD) is estimated at about 5 % of chronic hepatitis B cases, translating to 15–20 million individuals. The diagnosis of HDV infection involves presence of antibodies to hepatitis D antigen (anti-HDV antibodies). <em>Anti-HDV total antibody indicates HDV exposure (not infection). To document infection; the patient needs to undergo PCR testing and only if PCR is positive should the diagnosis of HDV ongoing infection done.</em> Testing for the antibodies should be performed in all HBsAg-positive persons. CHD is more severe and progressive than HBV mono-infection, with a higher risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), <em>transplantation and death</em>. Pegylated interferon-alpha (pegIFN-a) has been used for treating CHD with only limited durable responses. A 48-week course of weekly subcutaneous injections of pegIFN-a suppresses HDV replication in approximately 20–30 % of patients 24 weeks off therapy, with significant side effects. Bulevirtide (BLV) was approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in 2020 for CHD and compensated liver disease. Since its approval, real-life data on the use of BLV have been accumulating, with most treated patients in Europe having advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis. Real life data efficacy is concordant to that seen in clinical trials, with many patients achieving significant reductions in HDV RNA levels and ALT normalization after several months of treatment, and favorable safety. However, HBsAg loss is relatively rare. Finite therapy of BLV, in combination with pegIFN-a, leads to significant durable response, with more than 30 % of patients achieving HDV RNA undetectability off therapy. We need new finite therapies. Further real-world data and newer therapies are required for this severe disease.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8259,"journal":{"name":"Antiviral research","volume":"245 ","pages":"Article 106311"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145572894","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-17DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2025.106309
Wei Jiang , Ailing Yang , Jingchuan Ma , Dawei Lv , Mingxian Liu , Chao Wang , Shuo Chen , Huiling Fang , Yankai Chu , Zhengjin He , Wenrui Li , Yucheng Liu , Yun Zhao , Zhaocai Zhou , Gang Long , Hai Jiang
Nucleoside and nucleobase analog antiviral drugs are pivotal in antiviral therapy, but comprehensive methods to understand their cellular response mechanisms and genetic regulators are still lacking. Here, we show that Eμ-Myc; Arf−/− mouse lymphoma cells, which are highly apoptosis-prone, enabled genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screening on such drugs to identify genes that modulate their efficacy. Using retroviral sgRNA libraries and MAGeCK analysis, we uncovered key regulators of drug transport, activation, and inactivation for these drugs. For ribavirin, adenosine kinase (ADK) and adenylsuccinate synthase (ADSS) were critical for nucleotide metabolism and bioactivation. Remdesivir uptake and activation depended on the transporter SLC29A3 and phosphoamidase HINT1, whereas favipiravir resistance was linked to NT5C2-mediated dephosphorylation. Viral replication assays in Huh7 cells validated that knockout of SLC29A3, HINT1, or NT5C2 significantly altered antiviral efficacy. This study delineates the genetic network governing nucleotide analog response, providing mechanistic insights and potential biomarkers for personalized antiviral therapy.
{"title":"Genetic determinants of efficacy of antiviral drugs revealed by genome-wide CRISPR screens","authors":"Wei Jiang , Ailing Yang , Jingchuan Ma , Dawei Lv , Mingxian Liu , Chao Wang , Shuo Chen , Huiling Fang , Yankai Chu , Zhengjin He , Wenrui Li , Yucheng Liu , Yun Zhao , Zhaocai Zhou , Gang Long , Hai Jiang","doi":"10.1016/j.antiviral.2025.106309","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.antiviral.2025.106309","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nucleoside and nucleobase analog antiviral drugs are pivotal in antiviral therapy, but comprehensive methods to understand their cellular response mechanisms and genetic regulators are still lacking. Here, we show that Eμ-Myc; Arf<sup>−/−</sup> mouse lymphoma cells, which are highly apoptosis-prone, enabled genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screening on such drugs to identify genes that modulate their efficacy. Using retroviral sgRNA libraries and MAGeCK analysis, we uncovered key regulators of drug transport, activation, and inactivation for these drugs. For ribavirin, adenosine kinase (ADK) and adenylsuccinate synthase (ADSS) were critical for nucleotide metabolism and bioactivation. Remdesivir uptake and activation depended on the transporter SLC29A3 and phosphoamidase HINT1, whereas favipiravir resistance was linked to NT5C2-mediated dephosphorylation. Viral replication assays in Huh7 cells validated that knockout of SLC29A3, HINT1, or NT5C2 significantly altered antiviral efficacy. This study delineates the genetic network governing nucleotide analog response, providing mechanistic insights and potential biomarkers for personalized antiviral therapy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8259,"journal":{"name":"Antiviral research","volume":"244 ","pages":"Article 106309"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145556140","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-08DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2025.106308
Min-Hsuan Lin , Pramila Maniam , Bing Tang , David Harrich
Defective interfering particles (DIPs), containing truncated defective viral genomes (DVGs), are natural byproducts of RNA virus replication with potent antiviral activity. We recently developed a virus-free, dengue virus (DENV)-based platform producing antiviral DIPs with DI290 DVG, termed DIP-DI290. In this study, we established a scalable purification and lyophilization workflow for creating thermostable DIP-DI290 formulations for long-term storage. DIP-DI290 particles were purified via tangential flow filtration and ceramic hydroxyapatite chromatography, then lyophilized and reconstituted for biological assessment. After three months of storage at −80 °C, 4 °C, or room temperature, reconstituted DIP-DI290 retained biological activity, significantly upregulating interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) and suppressing DENV-2 replication. These findings demonstrate that lyophilization preserves DIP-DI290's antiviral efficacy across diverse storage conditions, supporting its development as a thermostable, field-deployable therapeutic platform for virus infections.
{"title":"Lyophilization enables thermostable formulation of dengue virus-derived defective interfering particles","authors":"Min-Hsuan Lin , Pramila Maniam , Bing Tang , David Harrich","doi":"10.1016/j.antiviral.2025.106308","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.antiviral.2025.106308","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Defective interfering particles (DIPs), containing truncated defective viral genomes (DVGs), are natural byproducts of RNA virus replication with potent antiviral activity. We recently developed a virus-free, dengue virus (DENV)-based platform producing antiviral DIPs with DI290 DVG, termed DIP-DI290. In this study, we established a scalable purification and lyophilization workflow for creating thermostable DIP-DI290 formulations for long-term storage. DIP-DI290 particles were purified via tangential flow filtration and ceramic hydroxyapatite chromatography, then lyophilized and reconstituted for biological assessment. After three months of storage at −80 °C, 4 °C, or room temperature, reconstituted DIP-DI290 retained biological activity, significantly upregulating interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) and suppressing DENV-2 replication. These findings demonstrate that lyophilization preserves DIP-DI290's antiviral efficacy across diverse storage conditions, supporting its development as a thermostable, field-deployable therapeutic platform for virus infections.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8259,"journal":{"name":"Antiviral research","volume":"244 ","pages":"Article 106308"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145487374","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-04DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2025.106305
Lottida Phondeth , Thomas Tu
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) drastically increases the risk of developing liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the ∼300 million people with chronic hepatitis B infections. HBV reproduces through an epigenetic circular genome, but can occasionally integrate into the host genome as a replication-defective form. These integrated forms have been reported to contribute to virus persistence and hepatocarcinogenesis. In this review, we highlight the effects of current and novel treatment under development on HBV DNA integrations and provide areas of potential research to develop more effective therapies that target the underlying drivers of persistence and pathogenesis.
{"title":"Biology of hepatitis B virus DNA integration and its impact on antiviral R&D","authors":"Lottida Phondeth , Thomas Tu","doi":"10.1016/j.antiviral.2025.106305","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.antiviral.2025.106305","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hepatitis B virus (HBV) drastically increases the risk of developing liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the ∼300 million people with chronic hepatitis B infections. HBV reproduces through an epigenetic circular genome, but can occasionally integrate into the host genome as a replication-defective form. These integrated forms have been reported to contribute to virus persistence and hepatocarcinogenesis. In this review, we highlight the effects of current and novel treatment under development on HBV DNA integrations and provide areas of potential research to develop more effective therapies that target the underlying drivers of persistence and pathogenesis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8259,"journal":{"name":"Antiviral research","volume":"244 ","pages":"Article 106305"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145457489","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-04DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2025.106306
Xiangxue Deng , Jing Zou , Zhenjie Liang , Ping Ren , Pei-Yong Shi , Vineet D. Menachery , Xuping Xie
A reliable experimental system is essential for advancing coronavirus biology and expediting countermeasure development. In this study, we report the construction of an infectious clone of human coronavirus OC43 (HCoV-OC43) using an in vitro ligation strategy. The clone-derived virus faithfully recapitulates the replication characteristics of the parental isolate in vitro. Leveraging this platform, we have developed a dual-reporter virus, OC43-mNG-Nluc, by replacing the viral accessory gene ns2 with a gene cassette encoding both nanoluciferase and fluorescent protein mNeonGreen. This construct enables dual-mode detection via chemiluminescence and fluorescence within a single assay. OC43-mNG-Nluc maintains replication kinetics identical to wild-type HCoV-OC43 in standard immortalized cell lines but exhibits marked attenuation in primary human airway epithelial cultures, underscoring the critical role of ns2 in viral replication within physiologically relevant systems. The dual-reporter virus also demonstrates excellent genetic and phenotypic stability following fifteen passages in vitro. Furthermore, we validate the proof-of-concept utility of OC43-mNG-Nluc in high-throughput antiviral screening, showcasing its advantages in streamlining and facilitating hit identification, triaging, and prioritization. Collectively, this study provides valuable insights into HCoV-OC43 biology and introduces a versatile and robust tool for coronavirus research and therapeutic development.
{"title":"A dual-reporter HCoV-OC43 for coronavirus biology and countermeasure development","authors":"Xiangxue Deng , Jing Zou , Zhenjie Liang , Ping Ren , Pei-Yong Shi , Vineet D. Menachery , Xuping Xie","doi":"10.1016/j.antiviral.2025.106306","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.antiviral.2025.106306","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A reliable experimental system is essential for advancing coronavirus biology and expediting countermeasure development. In this study, we report the construction of an infectious clone of human coronavirus OC43 (HCoV-OC43) using an <em>in vitro</em> ligation strategy. The clone-derived virus faithfully recapitulates the replication characteristics of the parental isolate <em>in vitro</em>. Leveraging this platform, we have developed a dual-reporter virus, OC43-mNG-Nluc, by replacing the viral accessory gene ns2 with a gene cassette encoding both nanoluciferase and fluorescent protein mNeonGreen. This construct enables dual-mode detection via chemiluminescence and fluorescence within a single assay. OC43-mNG-Nluc maintains replication kinetics identical to wild-type HCoV-OC43 in standard immortalized cell lines but exhibits marked attenuation in primary human airway epithelial cultures, underscoring the critical role of ns2 in viral replication within physiologically relevant systems. The dual-reporter virus also demonstrates excellent genetic and phenotypic stability following fifteen passages <em>in vitro</em>. Furthermore, we validate the proof-of-concept utility of OC43-mNG-Nluc in high-throughput antiviral screening, showcasing its advantages in streamlining and facilitating hit identification, triaging, and prioritization. Collectively, this study provides valuable insights into HCoV-OC43 biology and introduces a versatile and robust tool for coronavirus research and therapeutic development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8259,"journal":{"name":"Antiviral research","volume":"244 ","pages":"Article 106306"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145450157","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-04DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2025.106307
Ran Yan , Qiting Luo , Xinyi Luo , Xinrui Zhou , Jiayi Diao , Jiapeng Xu , Wei Ye , Kai Zheng , Ge Liu , Qinchang Zhu
Coxsackievirus B (CVB) infections pose a significant clinical burden due to their association with severe diseases such as myocarditis and aseptic meningitis, and effective antiviral therapies remain an unmet medical need. Here, we investigated the potential of repurposing doxepin hydrochloride (DH), a tricyclic antidepressant, as an antiviral agent against CVB. Our in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that DH significantly inhibits CVB replication. Mechanistically, we elucidated that DH targets the host AXL kinase, thereby inhibiting its phosphorylation of the viral 2C protein at tyrosine 162. This disruption of 2C phosphorylation abrogates CVB-induced suppression of the host IKKβ/NF-κB signaling pathway, leading to the restoration of innate immune responses and enhanced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6. Furthermore, our findings unveiled a novel immune evasion mechanism employed by CVB, wherein AXL kinase modulates viral replication by regulating host immune signaling. These results highlight AXL as a critical host factor in CVB infection and provide a strong rationale for considering DH as a potential host-targeted therapeutic strategy for CVB-associated diseases, particularly in the absence of specific antiviral agents.
{"title":"Repurposed doxepin targeting host AXL kinase to disrupt viral 2C-mediated immune evasion in Coxsackievirus B infection","authors":"Ran Yan , Qiting Luo , Xinyi Luo , Xinrui Zhou , Jiayi Diao , Jiapeng Xu , Wei Ye , Kai Zheng , Ge Liu , Qinchang Zhu","doi":"10.1016/j.antiviral.2025.106307","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.antiviral.2025.106307","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Coxsackievirus B (CVB) infections pose a significant clinical burden due to their association with severe diseases such as myocarditis and aseptic meningitis, and effective antiviral therapies remain an unmet medical need. Here, we investigated the potential of repurposing doxepin hydrochloride (DH), a tricyclic antidepressant, as an antiviral agent against CVB. Our in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that DH significantly inhibits CVB replication. Mechanistically, we elucidated that DH targets the host AXL kinase, thereby inhibiting its phosphorylation of the viral 2C protein at tyrosine 162. This disruption of 2C phosphorylation abrogates CVB-induced suppression of the host IKKβ/NF-κB signaling pathway, leading to the restoration of innate immune responses and enhanced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6. Furthermore, our findings unveiled a novel immune evasion mechanism employed by CVB, wherein AXL kinase modulates viral replication by regulating host immune signaling. These results highlight AXL as a critical host factor in CVB infection and provide a strong rationale for considering DH as a potential host-targeted therapeutic strategy for CVB-associated diseases, particularly in the absence of specific antiviral agents.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8259,"journal":{"name":"Antiviral research","volume":"244 ","pages":"Article 106307"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145457510","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-30DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2025.106303
Iwona E. Głowacka , Mirthe Graus , Dorota G. Piotrowska , Kurt Vermeire
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of acute lower respiratory infections and hospitalization in young children, but also poses a significant threat to elderly, high-risk adults, and immuno-compromised patients. Despite major progress regarding vaccines and RSV prophylaxis, the current arsenal of RSV antivirals is very limited. A new series of conjugates of N1-(phosphonoalkyl)-1,2,3-triazoles and 6-bromoquinazoline-2,4-diones functionalized with the 2-, 3- and 4-nitrobenzyl, 3-fluorobenzyl or 3-chlorobenzyl at N3 position of quinazoline-2,4-dione moiety were synthesized and evaluated for their potential antiviral activity. Among all tested compounds, conjugates 1 cb and 1 fb showed the strongest anti-RSV activity (high nanomolar to low micromolar range), both in U87MG and HEp-2 cells and proved to be non-toxic toward the tested cell lines. In addition, compounds (1R,2S)-1ha and (1R,2S)-1hd exhibited moderate activity (high micromolar range) against zika virus in Huh7 cell cultures. The C1-epimeric phosphonates (1S,2S)-1ha and (1S,2S)-1 hb proved to be inactive against the tested viruses, while being highly cytotoxic toward uninfected HEL, Huh-7 and MDCK cell lines. Phosphonic acids derived from the respective diethoxyphosphonyl conjugates showed no activity against the viruses tested, probably due to their poor permeability through cell membranes. In conclusion, our study demonstrates the great potency of the design of conjugates of N1-(phosphonoalkyl)-1,2,3-triazoles and 6-bromoquinazoline-2,4-diones as effective anti-RSV agents and highlights the potential of this compound class as antiviral therapeutics, warranting further structural optimization and in vivo evaluation to develop more potent and selective anti-RSV agents.
{"title":"Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of a novel series of conjugates of N1-(phosphonoalkyl)-1,2,3-triazoles and N3-benzyl-6-bromoquinazoline-2,4-diones with anti-RSV activity","authors":"Iwona E. Głowacka , Mirthe Graus , Dorota G. Piotrowska , Kurt Vermeire","doi":"10.1016/j.antiviral.2025.106303","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.antiviral.2025.106303","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of acute lower respiratory infections and hospitalization in young children, but also poses a significant threat to elderly, high-risk adults, and immuno-compromised patients. Despite major progress regarding vaccines and RSV prophylaxis, the current arsenal of RSV antivirals is very limited. A new series of conjugates of N1-(phosphonoalkyl)-1,2,3-triazoles and 6-bromoquinazoline-2,4-diones functionalized with the 2-, 3- and 4-nitrobenzyl, 3-fluorobenzyl or 3<em>-</em>chlorobenzyl at N3 position of quinazoline-2,4-dione moiety were synthesized and evaluated for their potential antiviral activity. Among all tested compounds, conjugates <strong>1 cb</strong> and <strong>1 fb</strong> showed the strongest anti-RSV activity (high nanomolar to low micromolar range), both in U87MG and HEp-2 cells and proved to be non-toxic toward the tested cell lines. In addition, compounds (1<em>R</em>,2<em>S</em>)-<strong>1ha</strong> and (1<em>R</em>,2<em>S</em>)-<strong>1hd</strong> exhibited moderate activity (high micromolar range) against zika virus in Huh7 cell cultures. The C1-epimeric phosphonates (1<em>S</em>,2<em>S</em>)-<strong>1ha</strong> and (1<em>S</em>,2<em>S</em>)-<strong>1 hb</strong> proved to be inactive against the tested viruses, while being highly cytotoxic toward uninfected HEL, Huh-7 and MDCK cell lines. Phosphonic acids derived from the respective diethoxyphosphonyl conjugates showed no activity against the viruses tested, probably due to their poor permeability through cell membranes. In conclusion, our study demonstrates the great potency of the design of conjugates of N1-(phosphonoalkyl)-1,2,3-triazoles and 6-bromoquinazoline-2,4-diones as effective anti-RSV agents and highlights the potential of this compound class as antiviral therapeutics, warranting further structural optimization and <em>in vivo</em> evaluation to develop more potent and selective anti-RSV agents.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8259,"journal":{"name":"Antiviral research","volume":"244 ","pages":"Article 106303"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145421066","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-29DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2025.106304
Rui Xiong , Yong Wu , Yuya Wang , Zhe Qu , Yanwei Yang , Susu Liu , Chen Ling , Lu Ke , Nan Xu , Changgui Li , Changfa Fan , Yihong Peng
Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) remains the leading viral cause of severe lower respiratory tract disease in infants and young children worldwide. Despite decades of research, RSV vaccine development remains hindered by the lack of animal models that accurately recapitulate pediatric susceptibility and allow rigorous assessment of protective efficacy and safety. Recent studies have identified the human insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (hIGF1R) as a critical host receptor that facilitates RSV fusion and entry. Using a novel conditional knock-in mouse model, lung-specific hIGF1R expression achieved through Ad5 vector transduction enables rapid generation of a pediatric-relevant mouse model, offering a promising route to close this gap. Following intranasal challenge with RSV A2 (1.62 × 105 TCID50), four-week-old Ad5-hIGF1R mice exhibited higher pulmonary viral loads, marked peribronchiolar and perivascular inflammation, interstitial thickening and a tendency toward alveolar wall coalescence compared with wild-type controls, thereby recapitulating severe pediatric RSV disease. Transcriptomic analysis revealed 12 chemokine genes, upregulated in RSV-infected lungs of Ad5-hIGF1R mice relative to mock controls, that are involved in immune-inflammatory pathways and may serve as practical biomarkers for detecting dysregulated host responses during vaccine or antiviral-drug assessment. Furthermore, A mid-dose prefusion F (pre-F) vaccination regimen significantly reduced viral loads and moderately attenuated neutrophil infiltration in the lungs of Ad5-hIGF1R mice. In summary, the young Ad5-hIGF1R mice demonstrate that hIGF1R expression enhances RSV replication and immunopathology in vivo. This model not only overcomes the limited RSV susceptibility of conventional young mice but also provides a platform for evaluating RSV vaccines.
{"title":"Rapid generation of a murine RSV infectious model by transducing a conditional knock-in mouse harboring human IGF1 receptor with adenoviral vector","authors":"Rui Xiong , Yong Wu , Yuya Wang , Zhe Qu , Yanwei Yang , Susu Liu , Chen Ling , Lu Ke , Nan Xu , Changgui Li , Changfa Fan , Yihong Peng","doi":"10.1016/j.antiviral.2025.106304","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.antiviral.2025.106304","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) remains the leading viral cause of severe lower respiratory tract disease in infants and young children worldwide. Despite decades of research, RSV vaccine development remains hindered by the lack of animal models that accurately recapitulate pediatric susceptibility and allow rigorous assessment of protective efficacy and safety. Recent studies have identified the human insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (hIGF1R) as a critical host receptor that facilitates RSV fusion and entry. Using a novel conditional knock-in mouse model, lung-specific hIGF1R expression achieved through Ad5 vector transduction enables rapid generation of a pediatric-relevant mouse model, offering a promising route to close this gap. Following intranasal challenge with RSV A2 (1.62 × 10<sup>5</sup> TCID<sub>50</sub>), four-week-old Ad5-hIGF1R mice exhibited higher pulmonary viral loads, marked peribronchiolar and perivascular inflammation, interstitial thickening and a tendency toward alveolar wall coalescence compared with wild-type controls, thereby recapitulating severe pediatric RSV disease. Transcriptomic analysis revealed 12 chemokine genes, upregulated in RSV-infected lungs of Ad5-hIGF1R mice relative to mock controls, that are involved in immune-inflammatory pathways and may serve as practical biomarkers for detecting dysregulated host responses during vaccine or antiviral-drug assessment. Furthermore, A mid-dose prefusion F (pre-F) vaccination regimen significantly reduced viral loads and moderately attenuated neutrophil infiltration in the lungs of Ad5-hIGF1R mice. In summary, the young Ad5-hIGF1R mice demonstrate that hIGF1R expression enhances RSV replication and immunopathology <em>in vivo</em>. This model not only overcomes the limited RSV susceptibility of conventional young mice but also provides a platform for evaluating RSV vaccines.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8259,"journal":{"name":"Antiviral research","volume":"244 ","pages":"Article 106304"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145421064","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}