Publications by authors named "M G Natchus"
Article Synopsis
- Development of broad-spectrum antiviral therapies, like 4'-fluorouridine (4'-FlU), is crucial for effectively responding to outbreaks and pandemics caused by emerging viruses, particularly those that cause hemorrhagic fevers, which have seen increasing morbidity and mortality rates.
- 4'-FlU has shown antiviral activity against several hemorrhagic fever viruses in cell cultures and has demonstrated high efficacy in guinea pig models infected with lethal arenaviruses, maintaining its effectiveness at low doses.
- When administered late in infection, 4'-FlU not only resolved clinical symptoms quickly but also showcased its potential as a therapeutic option with a broader application against various viral pathogens.
Article Synopsis
- Immunocompromised individuals face a higher risk of prolonged SARS-CoV-2 infections and severe COVID-19, raising concerns about the effectiveness of late-onset antiviral treatments.
- In a study using an immunocompromised mouse model, it was found that early treatments like nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (paxlovid) or molnupiravir were only moderately effective, while the experimental drug 4'-fluorouridine (4'-FlU) showed significant benefits in reducing viral load.
- Late-onset direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapies were shown to effectively shorten the duration of viral replication in immunocompromised hosts, suggesting potential clinical applications to reduce severe disease risks in vulnerable
Unlabelled: The immunocompromised are at high risk of prolonged SARS-CoV-2 infection and progression to severe COVID-19. However, efficacy of late-onset direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy with therapeutics in clinical use and experimental drugs to mitigate persistent viral replication is unclear. In this study, we employed an immunocompromised mouse model, which supports prolonged replication of SARS-CoV-2 to explore late-onset treatment options.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFChikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an enveloped, positive-sense RNA virus that has re-emerged to cause millions of human infections worldwide. In humans, acute CHIKV infection causes fever and severe muscle and joint pain. Chronic and debilitating arthritis and joint pain can persist for months to years.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnlabelled: Heartland virus (HRTV) is an emerging tick-borne bandavirus that causes a febrile illness of varying severity in humans, with cases reported in eastern and midwestern regions of the United States. No vaccines or approved therapies are available to prevent or treat HRTV disease. Here, we describe the genetic changes, natural history of disease, and pathogenesis of a mouse-adapted HRTV (MA-HRTV) that is uniformly lethal in 7- to 8-week-old AG129 mice at low challenge doses.
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