Antiviral Activity of Ribavirin, 2’,3’-Dideoxicitidine, Pirodavir, Oseltamivir and Infergen™ against RSV, Adeno-2, Rhino-14, Influenza and HCoV-EMC Infection in Differentiated Normal Bronchial Epithelial (dNHBE) Cells

The antiviral activity of ribavirin, 2’,3’-ddC, pirodavir, oseltamivir and Infergen™ was evaluated against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), adenovirus type 2, rhinovirus type 14, influenza, and human coronavirus HCoV-EMC in a highly differentiated, three-dimensional, ex vivo model of normal human bronchial (dNHBE) cells. Antiviral activity was measured by virus yield reduction assays 3-6 days after infection in the presence of the test rugs. Potential toxicity of the tested compounds was evaluated microscopically and by MTT assay. The following treatments were shown to significantly reduce viral replication: ribavirin against influenza and RSV, 2’,3’-ddC against adenovirus, pirodavir against rhino-14, oseltamivir against influenza virus, and Infergen™ against MERS virus. In some cases, the dNHBE test model was more sensitive in detecting antiviral effects than when using normal cell culture (MA-104, A549, HeLa-Ohio, MDCK, and/or Vero 76 cells). We show that dNHBE cells are a valuable model for testing potential antiviral compounds. Since they are differentiated and have apical and basal sides, they offer new possibilities for studying antiviral activity that may be more representative of clinical conditions.

respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), rhinovirus type 14, adenovirus type 2, influenza, human coronavirus HCoV-EMC, viral replication, MERS virus, Dengue-2 virus, EpiAirway (AIR-100), viral infection, antiviral activity drug testing

ribavirin, 2’,3’-ddC, pirodavir, oseltamivir, Infergen