Open Access<i>In vitro</i> activity of human recombinant alpha-2b interferon against SARS-CoV-2 virus
Author(s) -
S. Ya. Loginova,
V N Shсhukina,
С. В. Савенко,
С В Борисевич
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
voprosy virusologii
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.151
H-Index - 15
eISSN - 2411-2097
pISSN - 0507-4088
DOI - 10.36233/0507-4088-13
Subject(s) - vero cell , virology , virus , in vitro , interferon , biology , population , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , environmental health
. The pandemic spread of a new coronavirus infection, COVID-19, has caused a global emergency and attracted the attention of public health professionals and the population of all countries. A significant increase in the number of new cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection demonstrates the urgency of finding drugs effective against this pathogen.The aim of this work was to evaluate the in vitro antiviral efficacy of human recombinant alpha-2b interferon (IFN-α2b) against SARS-CoV-2 virus. Material and methods . The experiments had been carried out on Vero Cl008, the continuous line of African green monkey ( Chlorocebus sabaeus ) kidney cells. The effectiveness of the drugs was assessed by the suppression of viral reproduction in vitro . The biological activity was determined using titration of a virus-containing suspension in a Vero Cl008 cell culture by the formation of negative colonies. Results . The antiviral efficacy of the IFN-α2b-based medications, which have a high safety profile and proven efficacy in the prevention and treatment of influenza and acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI), has been studied against the new pandemic SARS-CoV-2 virus in vitro experiments in Vero C1008 cell culture. IFN-α2b effectively inhibits the reproduction of the virus when applied both 24 hrs before and 2 hrs after infection. In the IFN-α2b concentration range 10 2 –10 6 IU/ml a complete suppression of the reproduction of the SARS-CoV-2 virus had been demonstrated. Discussion . IFN-α2b demonstrated in vitro high antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2. In addition, the substance has a high chemotherapeutic index (>1000). Conclusion . Medications for intranasal use based on IFN-α2b have high antiviral activity and are promising drugs for in vivo study in terms of prevention and treatment of COVID-19.