Increased sensitivity of SARS-coronavirus to a combination of human type I and type II interferons.
There is currently an urgent need to identify effective antiviral agents that will prevent and treat severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) infection. In this study, we have investigated and compared the antiviral effect of different interferons (IFNs) on SARS-CoV replication in the epithelial kidney monkey Vero cell line. The results showed that SARS-CoV grown in Vero cells is moderately sensitive to IFN-beta and only weakly sensitive to IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma, in comparison to other IFN-sensitive viruses, such as those for encephalomyocarditis, vesicular stomatitis and Newcastle disease. Simultaneous incubation of Vero cells with IFN-beta and IFN-gamma indicated that they may act synergistically against SARS-CoV replication. The IFN-induced MxA protein was detected in the IFN-treated Vero cells. The data, however, suggest that the antiviral activity of IFN against SARS-CoV virus is independent of MxA expression.
Scagnolari
Carolina
C
Department of Exerimental Medicine and Pathology--Virology section, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
Vicenzi
Elisa
E
Bellomi
Francesca
F
Stillitano
Maria Giuseppina
MG
Pinna
Debora
D
Poli
Guido
G
Clementi
Massimo
M
Dianzani
Ferdinando
F
Antonelli
Guido
G
D000818:Animals; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D004357:Drug Synergism; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D064547:Myxovirus Resistance Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D045473:Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D014709:Vero Cells; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects*
D007370:Interferon Type I; C579071:MX1 protein, human; D064547:Myxovirus Resistance Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins