Protection of mice against infection with wild-type Mengo virus and an interferon sensitive mutant (IS-1) by polynucleotides and interferons.
Single-stranded polynucleotide preparations [tRNA, poly(rI) plus poly(ho5C)-copolymer] which protect mice against picornavirus infections without inducing interferon, protected mice equally against infection with an interferon-sensitive mutant (IS-1) of Mengo virus and with wild-type virus (IS+). Poly(rI) . poly(rC), and mouse macrophage interferon [i.e. serum from mice treated with poly(rI) . poly(rC)] protected mice equally against infections with the two viruses, but fibroblast interferon protected better against infection with the interferon-sensitive mutant than with the wild-type virus. These and other results indicate that: Mengo virus had a genetic locus affecting sensitivity to fibroblast but not macrophage interferon; these two types of interferon have different mechanisms of action against Mengo virus infections in mice; Mengo virus genes controlling sensitivity to fibroblast interferon may modulate disease since infection in vivo induces only fibroblast interferon; the antiviral activity of the single-stranded polynucleotides is unlikely to be mediated by induction of either macrophage or fibroblast interferon.
D000818:Animals; D004769:Enterovirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004926:Escherichia coli; D005347:Fibroblasts; D007372:Interferons / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008264:Macrophages; D008574:Mengovirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D051379:Mice; D009154:Mutation; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012343:RNA, Transfer / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects*
D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D007372:Interferons; D012343:RNA, Transfer