The antiviral JNJ-A07 significantly reduces dengue virus transmission by <i>Aedes aegypti</i> mosquitoes when delivered via blood-feeding

Dengue virus (DENV) is the most widespread mosquito-borne virus worldwide, but no antiviral therapies are available yet. The pan-serotype DENV inhibitor JNJ-A07 has shown potent activity in a mouse model. It remains unknown whether an antiviral drug ingested by mosquitoes could inhibit virus replication and thus reduce transmission to other hosts. Here, we investigated the antiviral activity of JNJ-A07 when administered in the blood meal to <i>Aedes aegypti</i> mosquitoes. JNJ-A07 blocked DENV-2 transmission by the mosquitoes in both pre-exposure and post-exposure settings. In addition, JNJ-A07 remained in the mosquito bodies for 7 days after blood meal. Reductions of DENV systemic infection in the mosquitoes suggested a potential for decreased proportions of DENV outbreaks in a simulated environment when the mosquitoes ingested JNJ-A07 via the blood meal.