Evolutionary safety of lethal mutagenesis driven by antiviral treatment

• Published in: PLoS biology Vol. 21; no. 8; p. e3002214
• Main Authors: Lobinska, Gabriela, Pilpel, Yitzhak, Nowak, Martin A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 08.08.2023; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Adenosine; Antiviral agents; Antiviral Agents - adverse effects; Biology and Life Sciences; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 - genetics; COVID-19 vaccines; Drug resistance; Evolution; Genomes; Humans; Hydroxylamines; Immune clearance; Immune system; Immunology; Immunosuppressive agents; Infections; Load distribution; Mathematical analysis; Medicine and health sciences; Mutagenesis; Mutagenesis - genetics; Mutagens - toxicity; Mutants; Mutation; Mutation rates; Nucleoside analogs; Pandemics; Pathogens; RNA polymerase; Safety; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Viral diseases; Viruses; Viruses - genetics

Nucleoside analogs are a major class of antiviral drugs. Some act by increasing the viral mutation rate causing lethal mutagenesis of the virus. Their mutagenic capacity, however, may lead to an evolutionary safety concern. We define evolutionary safety as a probabilistic assurance that the treatmen...