Integrated in vivo and transcriptomic analyses of lethal Oropouche virus infection reveal suppression of pathogenic host responses by antiviral therapy.

Favipiravir completely protects Syrian hamsters from lethal Oropouche virus infection and prevents neuroinvasion, highlighting its potential as an effective antiviral therapy.

• Why it matters: Oropouche virus causes severe outbreaks and neurological disease with no current approved treatments, creating an urgent need for effective antiviral options to reduce morbidity and mortality.
• What they did: Researchers conducted in vivo experiments using a Syrian hamster model and performed transcriptomic profiling of liver and brain tissues to assess host responses and antiviral effects, testing favipiravir's efficacy.
• The result: Favipiravir suppressed viral replication, prevented neuroinvasion, and normalized inflammatory and metabolic host responses, establishing it as a promising candidate for OROV treatment and informing future therapeutic strategies.