1496-VIDA: Protease-Initiated Antiviral mRNA Therapy
This research article introduces VIDA, an innovative antiviral mRNA therapy designed to combat diverse viral threats by leveraging the host's own cell death mechanisms. Researchers engineered gasdermin proteins to include specific cleavage motifs that only activate in the presence of a viral protease. When a cell is infected, the VIDA mRNA triggers lytic cell death, effectively destroying the virus's replication site while simultaneously alerting the immune system through the release of inflammatory signals. The study demonstrates success against hepatitis A, Zika, and SARS-CoV-2, proving the…
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