In vitro and in vivo studies of ribavirin action on Brazilian orthobunyavirus

Autor(es)

Livonesi, Márcia C. ; Sousa, Ricardo L. Moro de ; Badra, Soraya J. ; Figueiredo, Luiz T. M. ^[4]

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene; v. 75, n. 5, p. 1011-1016, Nov. 2006.
• Área do conhecimento: Ciências Biológicas - Microbiologia
• Assunto(s): Ribavirina Vírus de RNA Orthobunyavirus

Resumo

Oropouche, Caraparu, Guama, Guaroa, and Tacaiuma are viruses (genus Orthobunyavirus) that cause human febrile illnesses and encephalitis. The goal of this study was to evaluate the antiviral action of ribavirin on these orthobunyaviruses to achieve a therapeutical agent to treat the diseases caused by these viruses. In vitro results showed that ribavirin (50 ug/mL) had antiviral activity only on the Tacaiuma virus. Addition of guanosine in the culture reversed the antiviral effect of ribavirin on Tacaiuma virus, suggesting that ribavirin inhibited this virus by reducing the intracellular guanosine pool. Moreover, ribavirin was not an effective drug in vivo because it was unable to inhibit the death of the mice or virus replication in the brain. The results suggest that ribavirin has no antiviral activity on the Oropouche, Caraparu, Guama, Guaroa, or Tacaiuma viruses; consequently, ribavirin would not be a good therapeutical agent to treat these arboviruses. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 03/03682-3 - Estudos sobre arboviroses e viroses associadas a roedores
• Beneficiário: Luiz Tadeu Moraes Figueiredo
• Linha de fomento: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Temático