J. Neyts

Comparative infectivity and pathogenesis of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants in Syrian hamsters

This study compares the infectivity and pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 variants B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 to early 2020 strains in Syrian hamsters, finding similar disease outcomes but stronger proinflammatory cytokine elevation in B.1.1.7 infections.

ALG-097111, a potent and selective SARS-CoV-2 3-chymotrypsin-like cysteine protease inhibitor exhibits in vivo efficacy in a Syrian Hamster model

This study evaluates ALG-097111, a selective SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro inhibitor, showing potent in vitro activity and significant in vivo antiviral effects in Syrian hamsters.

Nelfinavir markedly improves lung pathology in SARS-CoV-2-infected Syrian hamsters despite lack of an antiviral effect

Nelfinavir reduces SARS-CoV-2-induced lung pathology in Syrian hamsters without affecting viral RNA or infectious titers.

N-terminal domain antigenic mapping reveals a site of vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The paper identifies a conserved antigenic supersite on the SARS-CoV-2 N-terminal domain recognized by neutralizing antibodies and shows its vulnerability to mutations in variants.

The combined treatment of Molnupiravir and Favipiravir results in a marked potentiation of antiviral efficacy in a SARS-CoV-2 hamster infection model

This study shows that combining Molnupiravir and Favipiravir significantly enhances antiviral efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 in hamsters, reducing viral titers by 4.5 log10 and eliminating detectable virus in 60% of treated animals.

In Vitro Activity of Itraconazole Against SARS-CoV-2

This paper assesses the in vitro antiviral activity of itraconazole and its metabolite against SARS-CoV-2, finding EC50 values of 2.3 μM and 3.6 μM, respectively, and reports no clinical efficacy in hospitalized patients.

Identification of TMEM106B as proviral host factor for SARS-CoV-2

This study identifies TMEM106B as a host factor essential for SARS-CoV-2 infection and replication in human cells.

High transmissibility and fetal pathogenicity of recent Zika virus strains from the African lineage

This study compares transmissibility and pathogenicity of recent African and Asian Zika virus strains, finding African strains more transmissible, lethal, and capable of causing fetal death.

Comparative analysis of the molecular mechanism of resistance to vapendavir across a panel of picornavirus species

The paper identifies mutations in picornaviruses that confer resistance to vapendavir, including both pocket and non-pocket mutations, and shows some mutations require drug presence for viral replication.

Antiviral treatment of SARS-CoV-2-infected hamsters reveals a weak effect of favipiravir and a complete lack of effect for hydroxychloroquine

This study evaluates the antiviral effects of favipiravir and hydroxychloroquine in SARS-CoV-2-infected hamsters, finding limited efficacy for both drugs.

STAT1-dependent tolerance of intestinal viral infection

This study identifies STAT1 as a key regulator of intestinal tolerance to a commensal virus, showing it restricts viral replication and prevents tissue damage without requiring T cell responses.

Assessing the in vitro resistance development in Enterovirus 71 in the context of combination antiviral treatment

This study evaluates how combining antivirals with different mechanisms delays resistance development in EV-A71 to pirodavir.

Alpha-ketoamides as broad-spectrum inhibitors of coronavirus and enterovirus replication

This study identifies alpha-ketoamides as broad-spectrum inhibitors effective against coronavirus and enterovirus proteases, with compounds showing low-micromolar activity in cell cultures.

A chimeric Japanese encephalitis vaccine protects against lethal yellow fever virus infection without inducing neutralizing antibodies

Pan-viral protection against arboviruses by targeting inoculation site-based skin macrophages

The paper shows that activating innate immune responses at the mosquito bite site, specifically targeting skin-resident macrophages, can inhibit systemic arbovirus dissemination and improve clinical outcomes.

A robust human norovirus replication model in zebrafish larvae

This study establishes a zebrafish larval model for human norovirus replication, showing high viral titers and antiviral response potential.

Differential Antiviral Activities of RSV Inhibitors in Human Airway Epithelium

This study evaluates the antiviral efficacy of RSV inhibitors in a 3D-human airway epithelium model, showing that replication inhibitors are more effective than fusion inhibitors even when treatment is delayed.