A groundbreaking study from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has identified potential broad-spectrum antiviral agents capable of fighting multiple RNA virus families, including those that could cause future pandemics. Led by Gustavo Garcia Jr. and published in Cell Reports Medicine, the study explored innate immune agonists that target pathogen recognition receptors and identified cyclic dinucleotide (CDN) STING agonists as the most-effective antivirals. These agents have also shown promise in cancer immunotherapy. In mouse models, a single dose of the STING agonist cAIMP proved effective in preventing and alleviating viral arthritis caused by the Chikungunya virus, while also demonstrating broad-spectrum antiviral activity against both arthropod-borne and respiratory viruses, including COVID-19. The research team’s goal is to develop these antivirals in conjunction with existing ones to prepare for potential respiratory and arboviral disease outbreaks.
