title: Ribavirin and interferon-beta synergistically inhibit SARS-associated coronavirus replication in animal and human cell lines.
abstract: Initial in vitro investigations demonstrated type I interferons (IFNs: IFN-alpha, IFN-beta) to inhibit replication of SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV), but found the nucleoside analogue ribavirin ineffective in Vero cells. In this report, ribavirin was shown to inhibit SARS-CoV replication in five different cell types of animal or human origin at therapeutically achievable concentrations. Since clinical anti-SARS-CoV activity of type I interferons or ribavirin is limited, we investigated the combination of IFN-beta and ribavirin. Determination of the virus yield indicated highly synergistic anti-SARS-CoV action of the combination suggesting the consideration of ribavirin plus IFN-beta for the treatment of SARS.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Virology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt, Paul-Ehrlich-Str. 40, 60596 Frankfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Morgenstern
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Michaelis
authors.forename: Patrick C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Baer
authors.forename: Hans W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Doerr
authors.forename: Jindrich
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cinatl
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D002460:Cell Line; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004357:Drug Synergism; D006801:Humans; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000821:virology*; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D045473:Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014709:Vero Cells; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012254:Ribavirin; D016899:Interferon-beta