Open AccessPoly(I)-Poly(C 12 U) but Not Ribavirin Prevents Death in a Hamster Model of Nipah Virus Infection
Author(s) -
MarieClaude GeorgesCourbot,
Hugues Contamin,
Caroline Faure,
Philippe Loth,
Sylvain Baize,
Pieter Leyssen,
Johan Neyts,
Vincent Denis
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.07
H-Index - 259
eISSN - 1070-6283
pISSN - 0066-4804
DOI - 10.1128/aac.50.5.1768-1772.2006
Subject(s) - ribavirin , virology , hamster , virus , uridine , interferon , biology , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , rna , biochemistry , hepatitis c virus , gene
Clinical nonrandomized trials demonstrate some efficacy for ribavirin in the treatment of patients with severe Nipah virus-induced encephalitis. We report here that EICAR, the 5-ethynyl analogue of ribavirin, and the OMP-decarboxylase inhibitors 6-aza-uridine and pyrazofurin have strong antiviral activity against Nipah virus replication in vitro. Ribavirin and 6-aza-uridine were tested further in hamsters infected with a lethal dose of Nipah virus. The activity of these small-molecule inhibitors was compared with that of the interferon inducer poly(I)-poly(C12 U). Both ribavirin and 6-aza-uridine were able to delay but not prevent Nipah virus-induced mortality. Poly(I)-poly(C12 U), at 3 mg/kg of body weight daily from the day of infection to 10 days postinfection, prevented mortality in 5 of 6 infected animals.