Researchers reported a new oral antiviral candidate called GHP-88310. They tested the compound in animal models, including rodents and larger mammals, and in human airway cell cultures.
The team focused first on human parainfluenza type 3, a virus that can cause serious pneumonia in older and vulnerable people. There are currently no vaccines or approved treatments for this parainfluenza disease. The study also notes measles as a second possible use because measles cases have re-emerged in parts of the US, Mexico and Canada.
Difficult words
- antiviral — a medicine that fights virus infections
- candidate — a thing being tested for medical use
- compound — a chemical substance made of two or more parts
- animal model — an animal used to study a disease or treatmentanimal models
- rodent — a small mammal like a mouse or ratrodents
- airway — the path that air follows into the lungs
- pneumonia — a lung infection that makes breathing hard
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Why do researchers test new medicines in animals and cell cultures before people?
- Who can get serious pneumonia from parainfluenza according to the article?
- Why might measles be a possible use for this drug according to the text?
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