| First Author | Fumagalli V | Year | 2023 |
| Journal | EMBO Mol Med | Volume | 15 |
| Issue | 5 | Pages | e17580 |
| PubMed ID | 36946379 | Mgi Jnum | J:336004 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:7481407 | Doi | 10.15252/emmm.202317580 |
| Citation | Fumagalli V, et al. (2023) Nirmatrelvir treatment of SARS-CoV-2-infected mice blunts antiviral adaptive immune responses. EMBO Mol Med 15(5):e17580 |
| abstractText | Alongside vaccines, antiviral drugs are becoming an integral part of our response to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Nirmatrelvir-an orally available inhibitor of the 3-chymotrypsin-like cysteine protease-has been shown to reduce the risk of progression to severe COVID-19. However, the impact of nirmatrelvir treatment on the development of SARS-CoV-2-specific adaptive immune responses is unknown. Here, by using mouse models of SARS-CoV-2 infection, we show that nirmatrelvir administration blunts the development of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody and T cell responses. Accordingly, upon secondary challenge, nirmatrelvir-treated mice recruited significantly fewer memory T and B cells to the infected lungs and mediastinal lymph nodes, respectively. Together, the data highlight a potential negative impact of nirmatrelvir treatment with important implications for clinical management and might help explain the virological and/or symptomatic relapse after treatment completion reported in some individuals. |
