The Korean journal of internal medicine

The Korean Association of Internal Medicine (대한내과학회)
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In vitro antiviral activity of ribavirin against severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus

  • Lee, Myung Jin (Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine) ;
  • Kim, Kye-Hyung (Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine) ;
  • Yi, Jongyoun (Department of Laboratory Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine) ;
  • Choi, Su Jin (Laboratory of Infection & Immunity, Seoul National University Hospital Biomedical Research Institute) ;
  • Choe, Pyoeng Gyun (Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine) ;
  • Park, Wan Beom (Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine) ;
  • Kim, Nam Joong (Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine) ;
  • Oh, Myoung-don (Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine)
  • Received : 2016.04.01
  • Accepted : 2016.07.08
  • Published : 2017.07.01
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Abstract

Background/Aims: Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging infectious disease caused by severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV), a novel bunyavirus. As yet, there is no effective antiviral therapy for SFTS. Ribavirin is a broad-spectrum antiviral agent, which has been tried for treatment of SFTS. In this study, antiviral activity of ribavirin against SFTSV has been investigated. Methods: Vero cell-grown SFTSV strain Gangwon/Korea/2012 was treated with ribavirin at various concentrations. Antiviral activity of ribavirin was evaluated by inhibition of the SFTSV cytopathic effect in Vero cells and quantification of viral RNA load in culture supernatant using one-step real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Cytotoxicity of ribavirin was determined by a tetrazolium-based colorimetric method. Results: Ribavirin reduced SFTSV titers in a dose-dependent manner, with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration ranged from 3.69 to $8.72{\mu}g/mL$. Cytopathic effects were reduced as ribavirin concentration increased. No significant cytotoxicity was detected at ribavirin concentrations of ${\leq}31.3{\mu}g/mL$. Conclusions: Ribavirin exhibited inhibitory activity against SFTSV replication in vitro, which suggests that ribavirin can be used as a potential antiviral agent for SFTS.

Keywords

References

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