title: Ribavirin inhibits Borna disease virus proliferation and fatal neurological diseases in neonatally infected gerbils.
abstract: By using neonatal gerbils, we assessed the effect of ribavirin on the proliferation of Borna disease virus (BDV) in the brain. The intracranial inoculation of ribavirin reduced viral propagation in the acutely infected brain, resulting in protection from fatal neurological disorders. We found that the treatment with ribavirin markedly reduces the numbers of OX-42-positive microglial cells, but does not activate expression of Th1 cytokines, in BDV-infected gerbil brains. Our results suggested that ribavirin directly inhibits BDV replication and might be a potential tool for the treatment of BDV infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases (BIKEN), Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
authors.forename: Byeong-Jae
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hidenori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsunaga
authors.forename: Kazuyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ikuta
authors.forename: Keizo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tomonaga
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000821:virology*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001890:Borna Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D001891:Borna disease virus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D005849:Gerbillinae; D008297:Male; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012254:Ribavirin