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Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, February 2003, p. 777-782, Vol. 47, No. 2
0066-4804/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/AAC.47.2.777-782.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Interferons, Interferon Inducers, and Interferon-Ribavirin in Treatment of Flavivirus-Induced Encephalitis in Mice

Pieter Leyssen,1 Christian Drosten,2 Marcus Paning,2 Nathalie Charlier,1 Jan Paeshuyse,1 Erik De Clercq,1 and Johan Neyts1*

Rega Institute for Medical Research, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium,1 Bernhard Nocht Institute of Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany2

Received 19 June 2002/ Returned for modification 12 September 2002/ Accepted 14 November 2002

We evaluated the prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy of interferon {alpha}-2b, pegylated interferon {alpha}-2b, poly(I · C), and Ampligen against Modoc virus encephalitis in an animal model for flavivirus infections. All compounds significantly delayed virus-induced morbidity (paralysis) and mortality (due to progressive encephalitis). Viral load (as measured on day 7 postinfection) was significantly reduced by 80 to 100% in the serum, brain, and spleen in mice that had been treated with either interferon {alpha}-2b, pegylated interferon {alpha}-2b, poly(I · C), or Ampligen. We also studied whether a combination of interferon {alpha}-2b and ribavirin (presently the standard therapy for the treatment of infections with hepatitis C virus) would be more effective than treatment with interferon alone. However, ribavirin did not enhance the inhibitory effect of interferon therapy in this animal model for flavivirus infections.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Rega Institute for Medical Research, Minderbroedersstraat 10, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. Phone: (32) 16-33.73.53. Fax: (32) 16-33.73.40. E-mail: johan.neyts{at}rega.kuleuven.ac.be.

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, February 2003, p. 777-782, Vol. 47, No. 2
0066-4804/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/AAC.47.2.777-782.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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