title: Increased sensitivity of SARS-coronavirus to a combination of human type I and type II interferons.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Exerimental Medicine and Pathology--Virology section, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scagnolari
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vicenzi
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bellomi
authors.forename: Maria Giuseppina
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Stillitano
authors.forename: Debora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pinna
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Poli
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clementi
authors.forename: Ferdinando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dianzani
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Antonelli
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; C579071:MX1 protein, human; D064547:Myxovirus Resistance Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins