title: Antiviral activities of phosphonoformate sodium to pseudorabies herpesvirus infection in vitro.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Phosphonoformate sodium (PFS) has been used as an anti-herpesvirus drug; nevertheless, studies of the use of PFS for treatment of pseudorabies herpesvirus (PrV) infection in the veterinary setting have not been widely reported.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study aimed to analyze the inhibitory effect of PFS on cell infection and apoptosis induced by PrV.
  
  
  METHODS
  The infectivity of PrV was determined by plaque assays when PFS was applied to the virus, to the virus-infected cells, and to the cells prior to infection. PCR amplifying DNA polymerase, gE, gG, and gD genes of PrV was performed. PrV-induced cell apoptosis was analyzed by immunofluorescence and flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PFS inhibits cell infection by PrV. Addition of the drug decreased the number of apoptotic cells. Amplification of DNA polymerase and other viral structural genes detected in this study by PCR was reduced, because there were fewer viral DNA copies being made in the presence of the drug. The drug has an inhibitory effect on cell apoptosis induced by PrV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PFS has inhibitory effects on cell infection by PrV, which may be used as an anti-PrV agent or combined with other anti-PrV agents. PrV-induced cell apoptotic cells and viral DNA copies decreased in the presence of the PFS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China. rxfemail@yahoo.com.cn or
authors.forename: Xiaofeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Guangxing
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiuwen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sui
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D017245:Foscarnet / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011558:Herpesvirus 1, Suid / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000379:methods; D014709:Vero Cells; D010948:Viral Plaque Assay / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D017245:Foscarnet