According to a recent study published in the journal PLOS Pathogens, researchers from the United States have discovered that 4’-fluorouridine (4’-FlU) has the potential to combat the avian influenza pandemic A/CA/07/2009 (H1N1). This compound has shown promising results in overcoming resistance in various lineages of the virus in vitro and has also demonstrated efficacy in mice and ferret models.
In the field of public health, seasonal influenza viruses have a significant impact every year, causing severe illness and death. The existing influenza vaccines provide moderate protection, but their effectiveness decreases when faced with pandemic strains. In addition, approved antivirals face challenges with viral resistance.
The researchers focused on studying the therapeutic potential of 4’-FlU by analyzing resistance profiling, as well as assessing pathogenesis and fitness in vitro and in vivo. They gradually adapted the recombinant virus CA09 to 4’-FlU through serial passaging and observed the development of resistance. The study revealed that the virus exhibited moderate resistance to 4’-FlU, as indicated by an increase in inhibitory concentrations.
Interestingly, the resistant variants showed impaired fitness and attenuation, both in cell culture and animal models. Even though these variants remained pathogenic, they could be pharmacologically overcome in vivo by administering 4’-FlU orally.
Furthermore, the researchers discovered that the transmission of the 4’-FlU-treated variants was compromised, preventing the spread to untreated individuals. This finding highlights the importance of 4’-FlU in blocking the transmission of resistant viruses.
Although this study has provided valuable insights into the mechanisms of resistance and attenuation, further research is needed to determine its application in the human host. However, these findings indicate that 4’-FlU holds great potential as a therapeutic agent against influenza, with the ability to overcome resistance and reduce viral transmission.
This study opens up new possibilities for the development of antiviral treatments that can effectively combat influenza and reduce the burden of this viral infection on public health.
Journal reference: PLOS Pathogens
The source of the article is from the blog enp.gr