tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
J Gen Virol. 2010 Aug 25. [Epub ahead of print]
In vivo ribavirin activity against severe pandemic H1N1 influenza A/Mexico/4108/2009.
Rowe T, Banner D, Farooqui A, Ng DC, Kelvin AA, Rubino S, Huang SS, Fang Y, Kelvin DJ.
Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network;
Abstract
The use of ribavirin in influenza treatment is a matter of debate. Due to adamantine- and oseltamivir-resistant strains of the current pandemic H1N1 (pdmH1N1) influenza viruses, the demand for alternative antiviral treatments has increased. Here we demonstrated the potent antiviral effects of ribavirin in a mouse model of pdmH1N1 influenza infection (A/Mexico/4108/2009). We observed treatment with 40 mgkg-1 per day of ribavirin partially protected the animals if initiated immediately upon infection. Administration of similar concentrations on subsequent days or immediate therapy with lower doses efficiently delayed disease progression. Correlation studies showed a direct relationship between low viral titers in the lung during early stages of infection with animal survival in ribavirin-treated animals. Reduced lung pathology in animals treated with ribavirin following infection also indicated the importance of immediate treatment. Our study revealed the antiviral properties of ribavirin and these results justify comprehensive clinical studies for the use of ribavirin against influenza virus in future outbreaks.
PMID: 20797971 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20797971
In vivo ribavirin activity against severe pandemic H1N1 influenza A/Mexico/4108/2009.
Rowe T, Banner D, Farooqui A, Ng DC, Kelvin AA, Rubino S, Huang SS, Fang Y, Kelvin DJ.
Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network;
Abstract
The use of ribavirin in influenza treatment is a matter of debate. Due to adamantine- and oseltamivir-resistant strains of the current pandemic H1N1 (pdmH1N1) influenza viruses, the demand for alternative antiviral treatments has increased. Here we demonstrated the potent antiviral effects of ribavirin in a mouse model of pdmH1N1 influenza infection (A/Mexico/4108/2009). We observed treatment with 40 mgkg-1 per day of ribavirin partially protected the animals if initiated immediately upon infection. Administration of similar concentrations on subsequent days or immediate therapy with lower doses efficiently delayed disease progression. Correlation studies showed a direct relationship between low viral titers in the lung during early stages of infection with animal survival in ribavirin-treated animals. Reduced lung pathology in animals treated with ribavirin following infection also indicated the importance of immediate treatment. Our study revealed the antiviral properties of ribavirin and these results justify comprehensive clinical studies for the use of ribavirin against influenza virus in future outbreaks.
PMID: 20797971 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20797971