Dimmock, N. J., Rainsford, Edward W., Scott, P. D. (Paul D.) and Marriott, Anthony C. (2008) Influenza virus protecting RNA : an effective prophylactic and therapeutic antiviral. Journal of Virology, Vol.82 (No.17). pp. 8570-8578. doi:10.1128/JVI.00743-08

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Abstract

Another influenza pandemic is inevitable, and new measures to combat this and seasonal
influenza are urgently needed. Here we describe a new concept in antivirals based on a
defined, naturally occurring defective influenza RNA that has the potential to protect against
any influenza A virus in any animal host. This protecting RNA (244 RNA) is incorporated
into virions which although non-infectious, deliver the RNA to those cells of the respiratory
tract that are naturally targeted by infectious influenza virus. A small intranasal dose of this
244 protecting virus (120 ng) completely protected mice against a simultaneous lethal (10
LD50) challenge with influenza A/WSN (H1N1) virus. 244 virus also protected mice against
a strong challenge dose of all other subtypes tested (H2N2, H3N2, H3N8). This prophylactic
activity was maintained in the animal for at least 1 week prior to challenge. 244 virus was 10
to 100-fold more active than previously characterised influenza A defective viruses, and the
protecting activity was confirmed to reside in the 244 RNA molecule by recovering a
protecting virus entirely from cloned cDNA. There was clear therapeutic benefit when
protecting 244 virus was administered 24-48 h after lethal challenge, an effect which has not
been previously observed with any defective virus. Protecting virus reduced, but did not
abolish, replication of challenge virus in mouse lungs during both prophylactic and
therapeutic treatments. Protecting virus is a novel antiviral which has the potential to combat
influenza infections in humans, particularly when the infecting strain is not known, or is
resistant to antiviral drugs.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	R Medicine > RM Therapeutics. Pharmacology
Divisions:	Faculty of Science > Life Sciences (2010- ) > Biological Sciences ( -2010)
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Influenza -- Treatment, Influenza A virus, Antiviral agents, RNA viruses
Journal or Publication Title:	Journal of Virology
Publisher:	American Society for Microbiology
ISSN:	0022-538X
Official Date:	September 2008
Dates:	Date Event September 2008 Published
Volume:	Vol.82
Number:	No.17
Number of Pages:	9
Page Range:	pp. 8570-8578
DOI:	10.1128/JVI.00743-08
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
Funder:	Mercia Spinner

Data sourced from Thomson Reuters' Web of Knowledge

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