Korean J Intern Med.  2017 Jul;32(4):731-737. 10.3904/kjim.2016.109.

In vitro antiviral activity of ribavirin against severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus

• Lee MJ
• Kim KH
• Yi J
• Choi SJ
• Choe PG
• Park WB
• Kim NJ
• Oh MD

• KMID: 2387719
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2016.109

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 μg/mL. Cytopathic effects were reduced as ribavirin concentration increased. No significant cytotoxicity was detected at ribavirin concentrations of ≤ 31.3 μg/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.

Keyword

Bunyaviridae infections; Phlebovirus; Ribavirin; Antiviral agents

MeSH Terms

Antiviral Agents
Bunyaviridae Infections
Communicable Diseases, Emerging
Fever*
In Vitro Techniques*
Methods
Orthobunyavirus
Phlebovirus
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Reverse Transcription
Ribavirin*
RNA, Viral
Thrombocytopenia*
Vero Cells
Antiviral Agents
RNA, Viral
Ribavirin