[Effect of different polyribonucleotide interferonogens on acute and latent viral infections in mice]

Poly(G) . poly(C) and poly(I) . poly(C) complexes administered soon after the viral challenge induced a high survival rate in mice with experimental tick-borne encephalitis. The protective effect was still noted when the treatment was given 24 hours after the infection. If the therapy was conducted at the end of the incubation period, at the peak of the virus reproduction in the mouse brain, poly(I) . poly(C) intensified the infection development and increased the animal death rate, while poly(G) . poly(C) had no such effect. Poly(I) . poly(C) injected 12 hours after the peak of the virus-induced interferonogenesis led to death of 80% animals inoculated with non-pathogenous Newcastle disease virus. The action of various samples of poly(I) . poly(C) was diverse. Poly(G) . poly(C) failed to effect the outcome of latent viral infection. The death of infected mice induced by polyribonucleotide complexes was not connected with their anti-viral interferonogenous activity, but correlated with the level of their toxicity for the intact animals. The results of the study have confirmed the risk of using poly(I) . poly(C) for the therapy of viral infections, especially during their clinical manifestation, and proved the safety of application of poly(G) . poly(C) and of some other polyribonucleotide interferonogens.