An Indirect Mouse Model for the Evaluation of Potential Antiviral Compounds: Results with VEE Virus (Indirect Mouse-Virus Model).

摘要

An indirect mouse model was utilized to evaluate the antiviral activity of several compounds against Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis (VEE) virus infection in mice. Mice were given various dosages of lysine-stabilized poly I.poly C (poly ICLC), a tilorone analogue, kethoxal or mepacrine prior to and/or shortly after receiving one of several dose levels of attenuated strain TC-83 VEE virus. Twenty-one days later, the same mice were rechallenged intracranially with virulent Trinidad donkey strain VEE virus. Susceptibility to rechallenge was interpreted as evidence for drug effectiveness in completely preventing the initial immunizing virus infection. Both of the interferon inducers, poly ICLC and tilorone analogue 11,567, possessed significant (P < 0.01) antiviral activity based upon this indirect model, whereas mepacrine and kethoxal were inactive. Results using the indirect method were confirmed using the conventional direct method.