Evaluation of potential therapeutic agents against the virus causing acute fatal encephalitis in children using a mouse model.

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K08502
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 54030:Infectious disease medicine-related
• Research Institution: National Institute of Infectious Diseases
• Principal Investigator: Mutsuyo Ito (高山睦代) 国立感染症研究所, ウイルス第一部, 室長 (70392313)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 急性脳炎 / 治療薬 / 動物モデル / SCIDマウス / スクリーニング

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Chandipura virus (CHPV) causes acute encephalitis in children, with a fatality rate of 50-70% in India. However, no effective treatment or animal model has been established to date. This study aimed to develop antivirals against CHPV.
We previously reported that CHPV causes lethal infection in immunocompromised SCID mice. Using SCID mice, we demonstrated that favipiravir inhibited the propagation of CHPV in vitro and that treatment with favipiravir significantly prolonged the survival of CHPV-infected mice and reduced viral titers in various organs, including the blood. In addition, drug screening revealed four new drugs that were effective against CHPV in vitro, two of which showed synergistic effects when used in combination.

Free Research Field

Virology

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

CHPVは致死率が極めて高い感染症であり、有効な治療法は確立されていない。これまでに、数種類の薬剤等がin vitroで効果を示すことが報告されているが、in vivoで効果を検証したものはない。本研究では新たに開発したSCIDマウスのモデルが抗ウイルス薬の薬効評価に有用であることを明らかとした。今後の候補薬剤の評価に使用されることが期待される。また、本研究で新たな治療薬候補とその併用による相乗効果が証明され、治療法の構築に向けた重要な知見を提供できたと考えている。