Prophylactic treatment with recombinant Eimeria protein, alone or in combination with an agonist cocktail, protects mice from Banzi virus infection.
A recombinant Eimeria protozoan protein antigen (rEA) has been shown to have antitumor and antiviral activity. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of rEA treatment alone or in combination with an agonist cocktail consisting of granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin 4 (IL-4), and anti CD-40 antibody, in the treatment of Banzi virus (BV) disease in BALB/c mice. Treatment with rEA resulted in a significant increase in survival, weight gain, and mean day to death in BV-infected mice and resulted in a significant decrease in brain virus titer. Treatment with rEA, in combination with a 4-agonist cocktail, improved disease parameters to a greater degree than rEA treatment alone. The effect of treatment with a reduced concentration of agonist cocktail or fewer components of the agonist cocktail, in combination with rEA, on disease outcome in BV-infected mice was also investigated. Treatment with rEA, alone or in combination with agonist cocktail, 24h after virus challenge did not improve disease. Treatment with rEA, alone or in combination with an agonist cocktail, is efficacious for the prophylaxis of BV infection in mice.
Julander
Justin G
JG
Institute for Antiviral Research, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322-5600, United States. jgjulander@cc.usu.edu
Judge
John W
JW
Olsen
Aaron L
AL
Rosenberg
Barnett
B
Schafer
Kristiina
K
Sidwell
Robert W
RW
D000818:Animals; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004539:Eimeria / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005416:Flavivirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D018177:Flavivirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000819:agonists* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000819:agonists / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors
D019013:CD40 Antigens; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor