Andes orthohantavirus (ANDV)

Andes orthohantavirus (ANDV) is a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus in the family Hantaviridae that serves as the primary cause of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) in South America (CDC, 2023). It is uniquely characterized by its capacity for person-to-person transmission, distinguishing it from other hantaviruses typically spread via rodent excreta (Martinez et al., 2005). The viral genome encodes essential proteins including the nucleocapsid (N), envelope glycoproteins (Gn and Gc), and an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), which are the primary focuses for therapeutic intervention (UniProt, 2024). Drugs such as favipiravir and ribavirin have been investigated for their ability to inhibit the RdRp, while neutralizing monoclonal antibodies target the glycoproteins to prevent viral entry into host endothelial cells (Garrido et al., 2018; NIH, 2022). Despite these experimental treatments, ANDV remains a significant clinical challenge due to its high case-fatality rate and the lack of FDA-approved specific antivirals or vaccines (WHO, 2020). The virus primarily targets the vascular endothelium, leading to a systemic inflammatory response and severe pulmonary edema (Manigold and Vial, 2014).

Other names

Andes virusANDV

RNA-dependent RNA polymerase inhibition, Viral entry inhibition