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EPA Method 1615. Measurement of Enterovirus and Norovirus Occurrence in Water by Culture and RT-qPCR. II. Total Culturable Virus Assay
Published on: September 11, 2016
Activity of pleconaril against enteroviruses
D C Pevear1, T M Tull, M E Seipel
1ViroPharma Incorporated, Exton, Pennsylvania 19341, USA. dpevear@viropharma.com
Abstract:
The activity of pleconaril in cell culture against prototypic enterovirus strains and 215 clinical isolates of the most commonly isolated enterovirus serotypes was examined. The latter viruses were isolated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during the 1970s and 1980s from clinically ill subjects. Pleconaril at a concentration of =0.03 microM inhibited the replication of 50% of all clinical isolates tested. Ninety percent of the isolates were inhibited at a drug concentration of =0.18 microM. The most sensitive serotype, echovirus serotype 11, was also the most prevalent enterovirus in the United States from 1970 to 1983. Pleconaril was further tested for oral activity in three animal models of lethal enterovirus infection: coxsackievirus serotype A9 infection in suckling mice, coxsackievirus serotype A21 strain Kenny infection in weanling mice, and coxsackievirus serotype B3 strain M infection in adult mice. Treatment with pleconaril increased the survival rate in all three models for both prophylactic and therapeutic dosing regimens. Moreover, pleconaril dramatically reduced virus levels in target tissues of coxsackievirus serotype B3 strain M-infected animals. Pleconaril represents a promising new drug candidate for potential use in the treatment of human enteroviral infections.
Insights
Pleconaril effectively inhibited enterovirus replication in cell cultures and improved survival rates in animal models. This antiviral drug shows promise for treating human enteroviral infections.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Pharmacology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Enteroviruses cause significant human illness.
- Limited effective antiviral treatments exist for enteroviral infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the antiviral activity of pleconaril against clinical enterovirus isolates.
- To assess the efficacy of pleconaril in animal models of enteroviral infection.
Main Methods:
- Cell culture assays were used to determine pleconaril's inhibitory concentration against enterovirus serotypes.
- Animal models (mice) were used to test pleconaril's oral efficacy in prophylactic and therapeutic settings.
Main Results:
- Pleconaril inhibited 50% of clinical enterovirus isolates at <=0.03 microM and 90% at <=0.18 microM.
- Echovirus serotype 11, a prevalent serotype, was highly sensitive to pleconaril.
- Pleconaril treatment increased survival rates in three lethal enterovirus infection models and reduced viral load in tissues.
Conclusions:
- Pleconaril demonstrates potent in vitro and in vivo antiviral activity against a broad range of enteroviruses.
- Pleconaril is a promising drug candidate for the treatment of human enteroviral infections.
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