Antiviral efficacy of pyrazofurin against selected RNA viruses.
The antibiotic pyrazofurin, 3-(beta-D-ribofuranosyl)-4-hydroxypyrazole-5-carboxamide, markedly inhibited the in vitro replication of a number of RNA viruses including Rift Valley fever (RVF), Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis (VEE), Sandfly, Pichinde, Lassa and LCM virus. Plaque formation was reduced by 80% or more with 2-10 micrograms/ml of pyrazofurin while 2 micrograms/ml reduced by 1000-fold the yield of Lassa and LCM virus in a yield reduction assay. In vivo, pyrazofurin failed to protect mice and guinea pigs against a lethal challenge with VEE and Pichinde virus, respectively. On the other hand, pyrazofurin caused a slight increase in the mean time to death of mice infected with RVF virus.
D000577:Amides; D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001116:Arenaviridae / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004666:Encephalitis Virus, Venezuelan Equine / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D016856:Phlebovirus / Q000187:drug effects; D011720:Pyrazoles; D012328:RNA Viruses / Q000187:drug effects*; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000494:pharmacology; D012263:Ribonucleosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012266:Ribose; D012296:Rift Valley fever virus / Q000187:drug effects; D010948:Viral Plaque Assay; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015005:Yellow fever virus / Q000187:drug effects
D000577:Amides; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D011720:Pyrazoles; D012263:Ribonucleosides; D012254:Ribavirin; C002997:pyrazofurin; D012266:Ribose