High throughput screening for SARS-CoV-2 helicase inhibitors.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for nearly 7 million deaths worldwide since its outbreak in late 2019. Even with the rapid development and production of vaccines and intensive research, there is still a huge need for specific anti-viral drugs that address the rapidly arising new variants. To address this concern, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) established nine Antiviral Drug Discovery (AViDD) Centers, tasked with exploring approaches to target pathogens with pandemic potential, including SARS-CoV-2.

SARS-CoV-2 M inhibitor identification using a cellular gain-of-signal assay for high-throughput screening.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2, SARS2) is responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic and infections that continue to affect the lives of millions of people worldwide, especially those who are older and/or immunocompromised. The SARS2 main protease enzyme, M (also called 3C-like protease, 3CL), is a bona fide drug target as evidenced by potent inhibition with nirmatrelvir and ensitrelvir, the active components of the drugs Paxlovid and Xocova, respectively. However, the existence of nirmatrelvir and ensitrelvir-resistant isolates underscores the need to develop next-generation drugs with different resistance profiles and/or distinct mechanisms of action.

Simultaneous screening for selective SARS-CoV-2, Lassa, and Machupo virus entry inhibitors.

Emerging highly pathogenic viruses can pose profound impacts on global health, the economy, and society. To meet that challenge, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) established nine Antiviral Drug Discovery (AViDD) centers for early-stage identification and validation of novel antiviral drug candidates against viruses with pandemic potential. As part of this initiative, we established paired entry assays that simultaneously screen for inhibitors specifically targeting SARS-CoV-2 (SARS2), Lassa virus (LASV) and Machupo virus (MACV) entry.

Performance of a Wearable Ring in Controlled Hypoxia: A Prospective Observational Study.

Background: Over recent years, technological advances in wearables have allowed for continuous home monitoring of heart rate and oxygen saturation. These devices have primarily been used for sports and general wellness and may not be suitable for medical decision-making, especially in saturations below 90% and in patients with dark skin color. Wearable clinical-grade saturation of peripheral oxygen (SpO) monitoring can be of great value to patients with chronic diseases, enabling them and their clinicians to better manage their condition with reliable real-time and trend data.