title: Interferon alfacon 1 inhibits SARS-CoV infection in human bronchial epithelial Calu-3 cells.
abstract: The primary targets for SARS-CoV infection are the epithelial cells in the respiratory and intestinal tract. The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) has been identified as a functional receptor for SARS-CoV. ACE-2 has been shown to be expressed at the apical domain of polarized Calu-3 cells. In this report, interferon alfacon 1 was examined for inhibitory activities against SARS-CoV on human lung carcinoma epithelial Calu-3 cell line and the other three African green monkey kidney epithelial cell lines. Interferon alfacon 1 demonstrated significant antiviral activity in neutral red uptake assay and virus yield reduction assay. The data might provide an important insight into the mechanism of pathogenesis of SARS-CoV allowing further development of antiviral therapies for treating SARS infections.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Antiviral Research, Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Science, Utah State University, 5600 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322-5600, USA.
authors.forename: Yohichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kumaki
authors.forename: Craig W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Day
authors.forename: Miles K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Wandersee
authors.forename: Bradley P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Schow
authors.forename: Justin S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Madsen
authors.forename: Dixon
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.forename: Jason P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: Donald F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Smee
authors.forename: Lawrence M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Blatt
authors.forename: Dale L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Barnard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001980:Bronchi / Q000821:virology*; D002460:Cell Line; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000821:virology*; D045473:Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007370:Interferon Type I; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C050739:interferon alfacon-1