Viral protease-initiated lytic cell death as a universal antiviral mRNA therapy.

Viral protease-initiated lytic cell death (VIDA) mRNA therapy effectively eliminates multiple viruses, including HAV, ZIKV, and SARS-CoV-2, by targeting infected cells.

• Why it matters: Current antiviral strategies often lack broad applicability and can fail to fully harness immune responses. Developing a universal platform could significantly improve treatment options for diverse viral infections.
• What they did: Researchers engineered gasdermin-D with viral protease-specific cleavage sites to create VIDA activators, using AI-designed motifs for SARS-CoV-2, and tested them in vivo against various viruses.
• The result: VIDA mRNA abolished viral replication and reduced tissue damage in models, demonstrating a versatile approach that primes immunity and offers broad-spectrum antiviral potential.