Viral infections continue to pose a significant threat to global health, especially with the emergence and re-emergence of resistant viral strains. The limitations of conventional antiviral therapies, such as narrow-spectrum activity, high toxicity, and rising resistance, underscore the need for innovative treatment strategies. Antiviral peptides (AVPs) have gained attention as promising therapeutic agents due to their broad-spectrum antiviral activity, low cytotoxicity, and ability to target multiple stages of the viral life cycle. This review provides a comprehensive overview of AVPs, focusing on their classification, mechanisms of action, and clinical relevance. Both natural and synthetic AVPs are discussed, including FDA-approved agents such as enfuvirtide (HIV) and boceprevir (HCV), along with candidates currently in clinical trials. AVPs inhibit viral attachment, fusion, replication, and assembly, while also modulating host immune responses. Their applications extend beyond treatment to include prophylaxis and combination therapies, offering potential benefits in pandemic preparedness. However, challenges such as enzymatic degradation, poor bioavailability, and high production costs limit their clinical translation. Recent advances in peptide engineering, computational drug design, and nanoparticle-based delivery systems aim to overcome these barriers. AVPs represent a promising class of antiviral agents with the potential to address current therapeutic gaps and improve future outbreak response. This review highlights their growing importance in the field of antiviral therapy and outlines future directions for research and development.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the pharmacological properties of the methanolic extract of Flacourtia jangomas (Lour.) Raeusch fruits (PFJM) and seeds (SFJM), along with their soluble fractions in ethyl acetate (fruit: PFJE; seed: SFJE) and chloroform (fruit: PFJC; seed: SFJC). Our phytochemical analysis of the examined extracts confirmed the presence of various therapeutically active phytoconstituents, including flavonoids, tannins, glycosides, and alkaloids. Employing the DPPH (2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl) radical quenching method, SFJC exhibited the highest antioxidative potential, with an IC₅₀ of 48.84, compared to ascorbic acid (IC₅₀ 21.77). The thrombolytic activity was assessed through rapid clot analysis of human blood samples, revealing that SFJC demonstrated the highest thrombolytic activity (60.99 ± 2.28%) compared to streptokinase (72.89 ± 2.19%). In the protein denaturation antiarthritic test, the PFJE and SFJC extracts exhibited significant potency, achieving results of 74.28 ± 1.16% and 79.25 ± 0.83%, respectively, at a dose of 500 μg/mL. All samples displayed notable anthelmintic activity by reducing Pheretima posthuma paralysis and death time in a dose‐dependent manner compared to albendazole. In both in vivo analgesic tests, SFJC demonstrated substantial (p < 0.01) pain inhibition percentages (tail immersion: 49.46%; acetic acid writhing: 66.43%) at a dose of 600 mg/kg. During neuropharmacological screening, all extracts significantly (p < 0.01; p < 0.05) and dose‐dependently decreased the mice’s locomotion activity and motor balance. In the thiopental‐induced sedation assay, SFJC significantly decreased the sleep latency time (4.18 ± 0.24 min) and increased the duration of sleep time (85.20 ± 2.39 min) at a higher dose. All samples notably reduced blood glucose levels in the oral glucose tolerance test in a dose‐responsive manner, and SFJC exhibited a considerable hypoglycemic impact (7.38 ± 0.44 mmoles/L at 600 mg/kg). The frequency of diarrheal episodes in mice during the antidiarrhea assessment was significantly decreased by the tested plant samples. These findings can serve as a reference for future endeavors to isolate pure bioactive compounds from this plant for the development of novel phytomedicines.

Background and Aims: Following the end of the COVID‐19 global emergency, concern has shifted to “Disease X,” a hypothetical, highly transmissible, and deadly pathogen, and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS‐CoV) is a prime candidate for this. This review explores its epidemiology, mutations, transmission, and potential to become a pandemic‐capable pathogen, aiming to support future research and public health preparedness against the disease. Methods: A comprehensive search of major databases was conducted for peer‐reviewed English articles (2000–2025) focusing on virology, outbreaks, treatments, and public health using relevant but definite keywords. Studies met strict inclusion criteria and standardized methods to ensure quality, reproducibility, and transparency. Results: Since it was identified in 2012, MERS‐CoV has spread across 27 countries, presenting a high case fatality rate (~34.5%) and zoonotic origin. It is primarily linked to dromedary camels, but shows limited human‐to‐human transmission ( R ₀ < 1). Unlike SARS‐CoV‐2, MERS‐CoV's spread is confined to close contact and healthcare settings, largely in the Middle East and parts of Africa. Its pathogenesis involves severe respiratory illness, driven by immune evasion and systemic inflammation, especially in individuals with comorbidities. While MERS‐CoV lacks pandemic‐level transmissibility, its genetic plasticity poses a risk for future evolution. Vaccine and therapeutic development remain limited due to sporadic outbreaks and low global urgency. Conclusion: Despite not currently fitting the Disease X archetype, MERS‐CoV's high mortality, zoonotic spillover potential, and possibility for increased transmissibility warrant continued surveillance, targeted research, and strengthened public health infrastructure to prevent localized outbreaks from escalating into broader crises.

Background: Justicia gendarussa is a branched shrub spread across Indian, Sri Lankan, and Malaysian forests. It has been widely used across many countries to treat asthma, rheumatism, colics in children, eczema, and HIV. The study goal was to investigate the phytoconstituents from J. gendarussa and to discover its therapeutic potential against various disease conditions. Methods: The plant sample was collected, dried, and grinded into coarse powder which was then soaked in methanol for 2 weeks. After the maceration process, the crude methanolic extract was subjected to solvent–solvent partitioning into four different fractions: n‐hexane soluble fraction (HSF), dichloromethane soluble fraction (DMSF), ethyl acetate soluble fraction (EASF), and aqueous fraction (AQF). DMSF was chemically evaluated through chromatographic separation, and all the fractions including the crude methanolic extracts were assessed for their potential pharmacological activities against pain, oxidative stress, hyperglycemia, diarrhea, and microbes following standard protocols. Results: Chemical investigation results in the isolation of lupeol, β ‐sitosterol, and 1‐monostearin. The structures of the compounds were elucidated through meticulous NMR spectroscopic analysis. In a DPPH free radical scavenging assay, prominent action was noticed by EASF, with a median inhibition concentration (IC ₅₀ ) of 24.207 g/mL in comparison to the BHT with an IC ₅₀ value of 23.159 g/mL. In central analgesic activity, all the results were highly significant, with the highest (233.47%) time elongation in comparison to the control, observed after 90 min at 600 mg/kg b.w. and maximum peripheral analgesic activity of 61.96% was found at a dose of 600 mg/kg b.w. Two test doses (600 and 400 mg/kg b.w.) demonstrated substantial hypoglycemic and antidiarrheal effects that became more pronounced over time. The isolated compounds demonstrated impressive binding scores when interacting with glutathione reductase (3GRS), mu‐opioid receptor (MOR), kappa opioid receptor (KOR), and glucose transporter 3 (GLUT 3) receptors. However, their performance was notably lacking in terms of binding with cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) and dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) receptors. Conclusion: Three isolated phytochemicals demonstrate promising binding affinities with the receptor molecules that support the pharmacological findings of this study. However, additional research needs to be conducted to isolate more phytoconstituents and affirm the pharmacological potential of J. gendarussa .

Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) can enter the cytosol of eukaryotic cells without killing them whereas some CPPs exhibit antimicrobial activity against bacterial cells. Here, to elucidate the mode of interaction of the CPP nona-arginine (R₉) with bacterial cells, we investigated the interactions of lissamine rhodamine B red-labeled peptide (Rh-R₉) with single Escherichia coli cells encapsulating calcein using confocal laser scanning microscopy. After Rh-R₉ induced the leakage of a large amount of calcein, the fluorescence intensity of the cytosol due to Rh-R₉ greatly increased, indicating that Rh-R₉ induces cell membrane damage, thus allowing entry of a significant amount of Rh-R₉ into the cytosol. To determine if the lipid bilayer region of the membrane is the main target of Rh-R₉, we then investigated the interaction of Rh-R₉ with single giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) comprising an E. coli polar lipid extract containing small GUVs and AlexaFluor 647 hydrazide (AF647) in the lumen. Rh-R₉ entered the GUV lumen without inducing AF647 leakage, but leakage eventually did occur, indicating that GUV membrane damage was induced after the entry of Rh-R₉ into the GUV lumen. The Rh-R₉ peptide concentration dependence of the fraction of entry of Rh-R₉ after a specific interaction time was similar to that of the fraction of leaking GUVs. These results indicate that Rh-R₉ can damage the lipid bilayer region of a cell membrane, which may be related to its antimicrobial activity.

Antibiotic resistance among hospitalized patients is a growing concern due to irrational antibiotic consumption. Exploring the dynamics of antibiotic consumption including healthcare-seeking behavior is indispensable to minimizing the antibiotic resistance burden. This study explored the pattern of antibiotic consumption and healthcare-seeking behavior of patients before being admitted to tertiary hospitals in Bangladesh. Between August and September 2022, we conducted this cross-sectional study in four tertiary care ( 2 public and 2 private) hospitals. A total of 943 admitted patients were randomly enrolled and face-to-face interviews were conducted to obtain data on antibiotic usage history, healthcare-seeking patterns, and duration of medical consultation. Descriptive statistics were used for the analysis and interpretation. Prior to hospitalization, 32.8% (95%CI: 30.5, 35.1) of patients had antibiotic consumption history within the previous two months without lab confirmation. About one-quarter (25.6%) of the participants sought antibiotic treatment from unregistered physicians. Patients admitted to private hospitals were found to be higher to seek treatment from unregistered sources compared to public hospitals (37.8% vs. 13.4%, p-value: 0.001). Less than two-thirds (63.8%) of patients completed their entire course of antibiotics before admission to the hospitals. The average duration between symptom onset and medical consultation was 5.6 (SD 1.3) days before hospitalization. In terms of place for healthcare seeking, the majority of participants (52.0%) visited government hospitals, followed by private hospitals (22.6%), and pharmacies (20.1%). Self-medication was found in 5.3% of participants before being admitted to the hospital. However, 72.2% of patients were prescribed antibiotics after admission and only 5.3% had a laboratory diagnosis before receiving antibiotics. Hospitalized patients were found to consume antibiotics more frequently before and after admission. Furthermore, healthcare seeking from unregistered sources, including delayed and incomplete treatment could hindrance to combating against antibiotic resistance among admitted patients. All Authors: No reported disclosures