Author/Authors :
Farias, Kleber Juvenal Silva Department of Internal Medicine - School of Medicine of Ribeirao Preto – University of Sao Paulo, Avenida Bandeirantes, 3900, Monte Alegre, 14049-900, Ribeirao Preto SP, Brazil , Machado, Paula Renata Lima Department of Clinical Analysis and Toxicology - Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Street General Gustavo Cordeiro de Farias, 384, Petropolis, 59012-570 Natal, RN, Brazil , Júnior, Renato Ferreira de Almeida Department of Clinical Analysis and Toxicology - Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Street General Gustavo Cordeiro de Farias, 384, Petropolis, 59012-570 Natal, RN, Brazil , da Fonseca, Benedito Antônio Lopes Department of Internal Medicine - School of Medicine of Ribeirao Preto – University of Sao Paulo, Avenida Bandeirantes, 3900, Monte Alegre, 14049-900, Ribeirao Preto SP, Brazil
Abstract :
Background
Dengue is an emerging arboviral disease caused by dengue virus (DENV). DENV belongs to the family Flaviviridae and genus Flavivirus. No specific anti-DENV drugs are currently available.
Methods
We investigated the antiviral activity of Brefeldin A (BFA) and Cytochalasin B (CB) against this infection. The drugs BFA and CB were used in the in vitro treatment of dengue-2 virus (DENV-2) infections in Vero cell cultures and in protection from lethality by post-challenge administration in Swiss mice. Viral load was quantified by qRT-PCR and plaque assay in Vero cell cultures, post-infection, treated or not with the drugs. Post-challenge drug levels were evaluated by survival analysis.
Results
Our results indicate that doses of 5 µg ml−1 of BFA and 10 µg ml−1 of CB are not toxic to the cells and induce a statistically significant inhibition of DENV-2 replication in Vero cells when compared to control. No BFA- or CB-treated mice survived the challenge with DENV-2.
Conclusion
These data suggest that BFA and CB have an antiviral action against DENV-2 replication in Vero cell culture, but do not alter infected mice mortality.
Keywords :
DENV-2 , Cell Culture , Mice , BFA , CB , Viral load monitoring , qRT-PCR
