Research results from University of Utah update knowledge of influenza
2007 NOV 20 -- "There is a need for the development of effective antivirals for the treatment of severe viral diseases caused by members of the virus families Bunyaviridae and Arenaviridae. The pyrazine derivative T-705 (6-fluoro-3-hydroxy-2-pyrazinecarboxamide) has demonstrated remarkable antiviral activity against influenza virus and, to a lesser degree, against some other RNA viruses (Y. Furuta, K. Takahashi, Y. Fukuda, M. Kuno, T. Kamiyama, K. Kozaki, N. Nomura, H. Egawa, S. Minami, Y. Watanabe, H. Narita, and K. Shiraki, Antimicrob," scientists writing in the journal Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy report. "Agents Chemother., 46:977-981, 2002). Here, we report that T-705 is highly active against a panel of bunyaviruses (La Crosse, Punta Toro, Rift Valley fever, and sandfly fever viruses) and arenaviruses (Junin, Pichinde, and Tacaribe viruses) by cytopathic effect and virus yield reduction cell-based assays. The 50% effective concentrations for T-705 ranged from 5 to 30 mu g/ml and 0.7 to 1.2 mu g/ml against the bunyaviruses and arenaviruses examined, respectively. We also demonstrate that orally administered T-705 is efficacious in treating Punta Toro virus in the mouse and hamster infection models, as well as Pichinde virus infection in hamsters. When administered twice daily for 5 to 6 days, beginning 4 h pre- or 24 h post-Punta Toro virus challenge, a 30-mg/kg of body weight/day dose provided complete protection from death and limited viral burden and liver disease. A dose of 50 mg/kg/day was found to be optimal for treating Pichinde infection and limiting viral replication and disease severity. In general, T-705 was found to be more active than ribavirin in cell-based assays and in vivo, as reflected by substantially greater therapeutic indexes," wrote B.B. Gowen and colleagues, University of Utah. The researchers concluded: "Our results suggest that T-705 may be a viable alternative for the treatment of life-threatening bunyaviral and arenaviral infections." Gowen and colleagues published their study in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (In vitro and in vivo activities of T-705 against arenavirus and bunyavirus infections. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 2007;51(9):3168-3176). Additional information can be obtained by contacting B.B. Gowen, University of Utah, Dept. of Pediatrics, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA. The publisher of the journal Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy can be contacted at: American Society Microbiology, 1752 N St. NW, Washington, DC 20036-2904, USA. Keywords: United States, Salt Lake City, Flu, Influenza, University of Utah. This article was prepared by Virus Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Virus Weekly via NewsRx.com.
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