Targeting the Cav1.2-KCa1.1 axis prevents rabies virus internalization and protects against lethal infection.

Blocking the Cav1.2-KCa1.1 axis prevents rabies virus entry and significantly improves survival in infected mice, with 70% survival at 50 mg/kg diltiazem.

• Why it matters: Rabies remains nearly 100% fatal once the virus reaches the central nervous system, highlighting the urgent need for therapies that block early infection stages to save lives.
• What they did: Researchers used siRNA to identify Cav1.2 and KCa1.1 channels as essential for rabies virus internalization, demonstrating that the virus interacts with Cav1.2 to activate downstream channels and promote endocytosis.
• The result: Diltiazem, an FDA-approved drug that blocks Cav1.2, markedly reduced mortality in infected mice, suggesting Cav1.2 as a promising target for antiviral drug development against rabies.