{
  "abstract": "AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) plays a central role in regulating cell energy balance. When activated, AMPK suppresses energy-consuming pathways, such as lipid and protein synthesis, while increasing nutrient availability through the activation of autophagy. These pathways downstream of AMPK activation contribute to SARS-CoV-2 infection, which hijacks autophagy and accumulates lipid droplets in viral factories to support viral replication. Here, we assessed the antiviral activity of the direct pan-AMPK allosteric activator MK-8722 in vitro . MK-8722 efficiently inhibited infection of Alpha and Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variants in Vero76 and human bronchial epithelial Calu-3 cells at micromolar concentration. This inhibition relied on restoring the autophagic flux, which redirected newly synthesized viral proteins for degradation, and reduced lipid metabolism, which affected viral factories. Furthermore, MK-8722 treatment increased the type I interferon (IFN-I) response. Post-infection treatment with MK-8722 was enough to inhibit efficient viral replication and restore the IFN-I response. Finally, MK-8722 treatment did not alter the SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8 + T cell response mounted upon Spike vaccination. Overall, by activating AMPK, MK-8722 acts as an effective antiviral against SARS-CoV-2 infection, even when applied post-exposure, paving the way for preclinical tests aimed at inhibiting viral replication and improving patients’ symptoms.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 8,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Andrea Cottignies-Calamarte"
    },
    {
      "name": "Flora Marteau"
    },
    {
      "name": "Feifan He"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sandrine Belouzard"
    },
    {
      "name": "Jean Dubuisson"
    },
    {
      "name": "Daniela Tudor"
    },
    {
      "name": "Benoit Viollet"
    },
    {
      "name": "Morgane Bomsel"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/aeqe1fce3mrkz.bib",
  "cited_by": 6,
  "doi": "10.1128/jvi.00394-25",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "aeqe1fce3mrkz",
  "issns": [
    "0022-538X",
    "1098-5514"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://hal.science/hal-05116926v1",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "hal",
      "0.sdv"
    ],
    [
      "hal",
      "1.sdv.mhep"
    ],
    [
      "hal",
      "1.sdv.sp"
    ],
    [
      "hal",
      "2.sdv.mhep.me"
    ],
    [
      "hal",
      "2.sdv.mhep.mi"
    ],
    [
      "hal",
      "2.sdv.mhep.psr"
    ],
    [
      "hal",
      "2.sdv.sp.pharma"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2725|SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W4411239930",
  "pdf_url": "https://hal.science/hal-05116926/document",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-12",
  "publisher": "American Society for Microbiology",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/aeqe1fce3mrkz.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:52Z",
      "native_id": "hal-05116926",
      "source": "hal",
      "url": "https://hal.science/hal-05116926v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "hal:0.sdv",
      "subfield": "general"
    },
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "hal:2.sdv.mhep.me",
      "subfield": "infectious-disease"
    },
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "hal:1.sdv.sp",
      "subfield": "pharmacology-toxicology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Direct pharmacological AMPK activation inhibits mucosal SARS-CoV-2 infection by reducing lipid metabolism, restoring autophagy flux and the type I IFN response",
  "title_text": "Direct pharmacological AMPK activation inhibits mucosal SARS-CoV-2 infection by reducing lipid metabolism, restoring autophagy flux and the type I IFN response",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:52Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/aeqe1fce3mrkz",
  "venue": "Journal of Virology",
  "versions": []
}