Nipah virus is a zoonotic virus belongs to the class paramyxoviruses causes severe respiratory and encephalitic disease in humans that may subsequently leads to death. Although the first outbreak was reported in 1998 in Malaysia, there was no effective treatment to cure the disease. Ribavirin, an antiviral drug was mostly used as an optional treatment in several outbreaks, but recent studies on animal models showed that ribavirin treatment only delayed but did not prevent death. The recent outbreak in India has costed 17 lives out of 19 infected. An effective treatment is essential to reduce the mortality rate.
,The identification of drug targets is more important in this context..... Nipah virus replication is leading by N0–P core complex and NiV G and F medicates the entry of the genome, attach and fusion with host receptors. Ephrin-B2 is one of the known human cellular receptors for viral protein binding. These two are most possible drug targets. As we are all known, ribavirin is tested with limited clinical benefits, there are certain monoclonal antibodies also evaluated. Chloroquine is believed to be a potential blocker of viral maturation. Above all the first outbreak was reported in 1998, later in singapore, India, and Bagladesh. Is Nipha getting mutated continuously? Its been more than two decades since from the first out break, why no replication inhibitors or molecular targeted therapies introduced? m102.4 a human monoclonal antibody, which was under pre clinical trail at the time of 2013 outbreak in Bangladesh, is it ready for human trial now? 2018 indian out break is human made? Many more to think and answer about NIPHA.
There is currently no preventive treatment against Nipah virus, because the vaccine has not yet been developed for this purpose. Neither is an effective and safe antiviral. For the time being, antivirals such as Ribavirin are virustatic, since they only delay the replication and invasion of the virus in the tissues; we still do not have a specific antiviral.
Thank you Dr. José Luis García Vigil and Dhilleswara Rao Vana for your opinions. Now the million dollar question is the effectiveness of human monoclonal antibody - m102.4 in humans.
Realizing the potential threat of this virus, more research studies are required to find a suitable cure. Recently, Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) announced a $25 million fund to develop a vaccine for Nipah. Hope in near future, the human race can combat this deadly virus with an effective vaccine.
Of course, you are right Dattatreya, at this point of time, it is a global emergency. There are high chances of spreading the virus around the world. We need more national and international collaborations to shape up a new global framework to develop vaccines against such outbreaks.
Vaccines may prove efficient in near future but there is always a chance of epitope modification and vaccine rebound activation of virulence. Taking these things in mind, we must think for a focused antiviral or rather virustatic option or even some specific immunological options to crack the virus. I am afraid , the world research rate should have to fast by now or there is a good chance of using these largely capable viruses as bio-weapons in wars, which can form an alarming situation.
Thank you Rudrarup Bhattacharjee!
Yes, there is always a threat with these kind of lethal microorganisms. We have very good examples in the past such as Anthrax, Smallpox, Salmonella infections, etc.
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