Hantaviruses are a significant and emerging global public health threat, impacting more than 200,000 individuals worldwide each year. The single-stranded RNA viruses belong to the Hantaviridae family and are responsible for causing two acute febrile diseases in humans: Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). Currently, there are no licensed treatments or vaccines available globally for HTNV infection. Various candidate drugs have shown efficacy in increasing survival rates during the early stages of HTNV infection. Some of these drugs include lactoferrin, ribavirin, ETAR, favipiravir and vandetanib. Immunotherapy utilizing neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) generated from Hantavirus convalescent patients show efficacy against HTNV. Monoclonal antibodies such as MIB22 and JL16 have demonstrated effectiveness in protecting against HTNV infection. The development of vaccines and antivirals, used independently and/or in combination, is critical for elucidating hantaviral infections and the impact on public health. RNA interference (RNAi) arised as an emerging antiviral therapy, is a highly specific degrades RNA, with post-transcriptional mechanism using eukaryotic cells platform. That has demonstrated efficacy against a wide range of viruses, both in vitro and in vivo. Recent antiviral methods involve using small interfering RNA (siRNA) and other, immune-based therapies to target specific gene segments (S, M, or L) of the Hantavirus. This therapeutic approach enhances viral RNA clearance through the RNA interference process in Vero E6 cells or human lung microvascular endothelial cells. However, the use of siRNAs faces challenges due to their low biological stability and limited in vivo targeting ability. Despite their successful inhibition of Hantavirus replication in host cells, their antiviral efficacy may be hindered. In the current review, we focus on advances in therapeutic strategies, as antiviral medications, immune-based therapies and vaccine candidates aimed at enhancing the body’s ability to control the progression of Hantavirus infections, with the potential to reduce the risk of severe disease.

• Identified the predominant dengue virus serotype (DENV-2) circulating in Pakistan during 2023–2024. • Characterization of the envelope protein that provided valuable insights into the virus molecular structure and function. • The high sequence similarity to DENV-2 strains from different regions underscores the widespread distribution and genetic stability of this serotype. • Computational docking studies with antiviral compounds like Arbidol and Quercetin indicated potential therapeutic interactions.

Influenza virus infection contributing to the majority of viral pneumonia, acute cardiovascular and renal co-morbidities even death, is a worldwide public health concern caused by seasonal and pandemic influenza viruses. Unlike seasonal influenza, which occurred annually, the emerging of pandemic influenza every two to three decades for the distinctly reassorted influenza virus strains contributed to the broadly rapid spread and increased morbidity and mortality. While the majority of the influenza-infected population manifest no or only moderate influenza like illnesses symptoms, partial would progress to severe influenza illness and even die for the influenza-triggered complications. In this view, we collect and recapitulate various biomarkers that have been identified and may be employed in the clinical practices involved detection, treatment, and protection of individuals with a high risk of progression to severe influenza illnesses, as well as accurate track monitoring of influenza illnesses prognosis and applicability of therapeutic strategies. While numerous influenza-related deaths occurred in the aging and frail population, the biomarkers associated with increased susceptibility to severe influenza illnesses among the aging and frail patients were retrieved and outlined. Aging intertwined with frailty, they have similar physiological function decline processes resulting in dysfunction of host defense mechanisms and increased infection-related co-morbidities. Overall, these potential biomarkers associated with aging, frailty conditions, and impaired immune defense mechanisms are determinant factors of influenza illness severity through combining the baseline background and tipping points, as well as socioeconomic status disparity and psychosocial vulnerability being the shifting the trajectory and outcomes of influenza illnesses, particularly among the elder individuals.

Corrigendum: Hantavirus: an overview and advancements in therapeutic approaches for infection

Dengue virus (DENV) remains a global health threat, with Pakistan experiencing recurrent outbreaks, yet non-structural genes (NS1, NS2A, NS5) critical for viral replication and pathogenesis remain understudied in local strains. In this study, 150 NS1-positive serum samples (2022-2024) were analyzed via nested PCR, Sanger sequencing, and phylogenetic tools (MEGA11), revealing DENV-2 as the dominant serotype (85 % of samples), with NS5 showing 97 % homology to Indian/Swat strains, while NS1 and NS2A exhibited sequence variation in functional domains. In silico modeling and docking studies identified RK-0404,678 as a strong binder to NS5 (-6.4 kcal/mol) and Galidesivir to NS5 (-7.2 kcal/mol), suggesting their potential as antiviral candidates. These findings highlight DENV-2 dominance in Pakistan and identify conserved regions in NS5 as promising drug targets, though further experimental validation is warranted.