Breaking the chains: Advancements in antiviral strategies to combat Nipah virus infections

Abstract

Nipah virus (NiV) is a highly pathogenic zoonotic virus that has caused several outbreaks with high fatality rates in humans and animals, thus, requiring a “One Health” approach. No specific treatment or vaccine is available for NiV infection, making the development of effective antiviral agents against this virus a critical research priority. In recent years, significant efforts have been made to identify and develop antiviral agents targeting the various stages of NiV pathogenesis. This review comprehensively discusses current research on antiviral agents against NiV. The promising results obtained with several compounds, including repurposed drugs, nucleoside analogs, phytochemicals, and multi-target inhibitors, are also highlighted. Developing effective antiviral agents against NiV remains a major challenge; however, recent advances in understanding the mechanisms of NiV pathogenesis and identifying potential targets for antiviral agents have provided hope for the future. Further research is required to identify and optimize antiviral agents with broad-spectrum activity against NiV and other related viruses.