Favipiravir does not readily generate resistant mutants in poliovirus, as mutations leading to resistance appear to be lethal to RNA polymerase function.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Suggests favipiravir has a high barrier to resistance in poliovirus; leaves open.
BACKGROUND: T-705 (favipiravir) is a potent inhibitor of RNA-dependent RNA polymerases of influenza viruses and no favipiravir-resistant virus has been isolated. Poliovirus RNA polymerase has been well characterized and isolation of resistant virus was examined in poliovirus. METHODS: Susceptibility variants of poliovirus I (Sabin strain) were isolated during passages in the presence of favipiravir and characterized for their susceptibility and the sequence of RNA polymerase. RESULTS: Five variants with 0.47-1.88 times the 50% inhibitory concentration for plaque formation of the parent poliovirus had amino acid variations in the 3D gene of the RNA polymerase. The distribution of amino acid variations was not related to ribavirin resistance, and two amino acid variation sites were found near the finger domain. CONCLUSION: Favipiravir as a chain terminator would not be incorporated and replicate to cause lethal mutagenesis as a mutagen like ribavirin, and resistant mutants were not isolated. A high replication level would generate mutations leading to favipiravir resistance as ribavirin resistance was generated, but generated mutations would be lethal to the RNA polymerase function.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Daikoku et al. (2017) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 10 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: