Ribavirin cures cells of a persistent infection with foot-and-mouth disease virus in vitro.
Ribavirin (1-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-1H-1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxamide) eliminates foot-and-mouth disease virus from persistently infected cell cultures. The latter are 10-fold more sensitive to ribavirin than lytically infected cells. In treated cells no viral RNA or proteins could be detected by dot-blot hybridization to cDNA probes, virus and RNA infectivity assays, or immunofluorescence. A potential application of the drug for the treatment of animals carrying the virus is suggested.
D000818:Animals; D005537:Aphthovirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D002460:Cell Line; D006224:Cricetinae; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012263:Ribonucleosides / Q000494:pharmacology*
D012367:RNA, Viral; D012263:Ribonucleosides; D012254:Ribavirin