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Nirmatrelvir treatment of SARS-CoV-2-infected mice blunts antiviral adaptive immune responses
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Nirmatrelvir treatment of SARS-CoV-2-infected mice blunts antiviral adaptive immune responses

Valeria Fumagalli, Pietro Di Lucia, Micol Ravà, Davide Marotta, Elisa Bono, Stefano Grassi, Lorena Donnici, Rolando Cannalire, Irina Stefanelli, Anastasia Ferraro, …
EMBO molecular medicine, Vol.15(5), e17580
03/22/2023
DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202317580
PMCID: PMC10165354
PMID: 36946379
url
https://doi.org/10.15252/emmm.202317580View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

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.
Animal Models antiviral treatment SARS-CoV-2 nirmatrelvir adaptive immunity

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