A cap-dependent endonuclease inhibitor acts as a potent antiviral agent against La Crosse virus infection.

ABSTRACT: La Crosse virus (LACV) infection, the causative agent of La Crosse encephalitis, can lead to severe neurological symptoms and sequelae, particularly in children. Despite annual reports of neurologically symptomatic cases, no effective treatment has yet been established. Bunyaviruses, including LACV, utilize a cap-snatching mechanism for transcription, with a cap-dependent endonuclease (CEN) serving as a promising target for antiviral treatment. Specifically, we now demonstrate that a CEN inhibitor, carbamoyl pyridone carboxylic acid (CAPCA)-1, exhibits potent anti-LACV activity in vitro and in vivo. CAPCA-1 exhibited 50% effective concentration values below 1 µM in neuronal and non-neuronal cells, demonstrating a higher in vitro activity than the nucleoside analogs, ri

SUBMITTER: Konishi K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12406681 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature