RESUMO
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of respiratory disease in infants, young children, immunocompromised patients, and the institutionalized elderly. Previous work had shown that RNase L, an antiviral enzyme of the interferon system, could be recruited to cleave RSV genomic RNA by attaching tetrameric 2prime prime or minute-5prime prime or minute-linked oligoadenylates (2-5A) to an oligonucleotide complementary to repetitive gene-start sequences within the RSV genome (2-5A antisense). A 2prime prime or minute-O-methyl RNA-modified analog of the lead 2-5A anti-RSV chimera is shown here to have enhanced antiviral activity in cell culture studies while also cleaving RSV genomic RNA in an RNase L- and sequence-specific manner. When administered intranasally to RSV-infected African green monkeys, this chimera reduced nasal RSV replication by up to four log(10) units in a dose- and time-dependent manner.
Assuntos
Nucleotídeos de Adenina , Antivirais/uso terapêutico , Oligonucleotídeos Antissenso/uso terapêutico , Oligorribonucleotídeos , Infecções por Vírus Respiratório Sincicial/tratamento farmacológico , Vírus Sinciciais Respiratórios/efeitos dos fármacos , Replicação Viral/efeitos dos fármacos , Administração Intranasal , Animais , Antivirais/administração & dosagem , Antivirais/farmacologia , Linhagem Celular , Chlorocebus aethiops , Endorribonucleases/metabolismo , Oligonucleotídeos Antissenso/administração & dosagem , Oligonucleotídeos Antissenso/farmacologia , RNA Viral/metabolismo , Infecções por Vírus Respiratório Sincicial/virologia , Vírus Sinciciais Respiratórios/genéticaRESUMO
Simian varicella virus (SVV) causes a natural varicella-like disease in nonhuman primates. Outbreaks of simian varicella occur sporadically in primate facilities. Simian varicella is used as a model for investigation of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) pathogenesis and latency. In this study, SVV gene expression and histopathology were analysed in tissues of acutely infected vervet monkeys. RT-PCR analysis demonstrated expression of specific SVV immediate early, early and late genes in the skin, lung, liver and ganglia tissues of acutely infected monkeys. Viral antigen expression and histopathology, including necrosis and inflammation, were detected in the skin, lungs, liver and spleen of infected monkeys by immunohistochemical analysis. Viral antigen expression, but little or no histopathology, was evident in the neural ganglia, the eventual site of viral latency. The study provides a foundation for further investigation on the role of viral genes in varicella pathogenesis and latency.
