Ribavirin reduces mortality in enterovirus 71-infected mice by decreasing viral replication.
Enterovirus 71 (EV71) causes fatal encephalitis in young children. However, there is no effective antiviral drug available for infected patients. Ribavirin is currently used for the treatment of several RNA virus infections clinically, so its anti-EV71 efficacy was evaluated. In vitro results showed that ribavirin effectively reduced the viral yields (with an IC50 of 65 microg/mL) and virus-induced cytopathic effect in human and mouse cell lines. In vivo results showed that ribavirin reduced the mortality, morbidity, and subsequent paralysis sequelae in infected mice by decreasing viral loads in tissues. Thus, ribavirin could be a potential anti-EV71 drug.
Li
Zhao-Hong
ZH
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University,Taiwan, Republic of China.
Li
Chien-Ming
CM
Ling
Pin
P
Shen
Fang-Hsiu
FH
Chen
Shih-Heng
SH
Liu
Ching-Chuan
CC
Yu
Chun-Keung
CK
Chen
Shun-Hua
SH
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D029821:Enterovirus A, Human / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004769:Enterovirus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics
D012254:Ribavirin