title: Proof of concept for the inhibition of foot-and-mouth disease virus replication by the anti-viral drug 2'-C-methylcytidine in severe combined immunodeficient mice.
abstract: Recent European contingency plans envisage emergency vaccination as an animal-friendly control strategy for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). Anti-viral drugs may be used as an alternative or complementary measure. We here demonstrate that the nucleoside analogue 2'-C-methylcytidine (2'CMC) protects severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice against lethal FMD virus infection. In brief, SCID mice were inoculated with serotype A FMD virus and treated for five consecutive days with 2'CMC. All 15 treated mice remained healthy until the end of the study at 14 days post-infection (dpi). At that time, viral RNA was no longer detected in 13 of 15 treated mice. All eight untreated mice suffered from an acute generalized disease and were euthanized for ethical reasons on average at 4 dpi. These results illustrate the potential of small molecules to control FMD.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Vesicular and Exotic Diseases, Virology Department, CODA-CERVA, Veterinary and Agrochemical Research Centre, Brussel, Belgium.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Lefebvre
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: De Vleeschauwer
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Goris
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kollanur
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Billiet
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Murao
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Neyts
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: De Clercq
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003562:Cytidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005536:Foot-and-Mouth Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D029544:Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012367:RNA, Viral; C513402:2'-C-methylcytidine; D003562:Cytidine
keywords: 2′-C-methylcytidine; anti-viral drugs; foot-and-mouth disease; foot-and-mouth disease virus; proof of concept; severe combined immunodeficient mice