Scientists have already started preparing for the next pandemic. Researchers have identified possible sources of mass infections and are looking for early solutions to counter them.
SARS-CoV-2, which claimed nearly seven million lives, exposed society’s vulnerabilities in the face of a large-scale epidemic caused by emerging pathogens.
In a new study, scientists have identified potential broad-spectrum antiviral agents that can target multiple families of RNA viruses. These viruses continue to pose a significant threat and could cause future pandemics.
Mosquitoes could trigger the next pandemic
While it’s impossible to predict exactly what will trigger the next pandemic, the authors say there are certain more likely candidates. Recent epidemics, as well as global climate change and the ever-evolving nature of the RNA genome, tip the balance towards arboviruses. These viruses are spread by arthropods such as mosquitoes.
These include Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), Dengue virus, West Nile virus and Zika virus.
“Given their already demonstrated epidemic potential, finding effective broad-spectrum treatments against these viruses is critically important. They become potential agents for pandemics,” write the authors of the study.
Researchers have already discovered antivirals that inhibit arboviruses
In the recent study, published Friday in Cell Reports Medicine, the researchers found that several antivirals inhibit these arboviruses to varying degrees.
“The most potent broad-spectrum antiviral agents identified in the study were cyclic dinucleotide (CDN) STING agonists. They also show promise in triggering an immune defense against cancer,” said lead author Vaithi Arumugaswami. He is an associate professor in the department of molecular and medical pharmacology at UCLA.
A robust host antiviral response induced by a single treatment dose has been shown to be effective in preventing and attenuating debilitating viral arthritis caused by Chikungunya virus in a mouse model. This could be a very promising treatment modality. People affected by the Chikungunya virus suffer from viral arthritis years and decades after the initial infection, the professor specified.
Next step
The study concludes that STING agonists exhibited broad-spectrum antiviral activity against both arthropod-borne and respiratory viruses. This includes the SARS-CoV-2 and Enterovirus D68 viruses, in cell culture models.
The next step for specialists is to develop broad-spectrum antivirals in combination with other existing antivirals that are readily available in case of future outbreaks of respiratory and arboviral diseases.
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2023-05-02 21:05:00
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