ANTI-RHINOVIRAL ACTIVITY OF RECOMBINANT AND HYBRID SPECIES OF INTERFERON-ALPHA

To define further differences in antiviral activity as well as to iden tify candidate interferons for study in the prevention of rhinovirus c olds, the antiviral activities of nine species of recombinant interfer on alpha (IFN-alpha A, IFN-alpha B, IFN-alpha C, IFN-alpha D, IFN-alph a J, [Ser-116]IFN-alpha J1, IFN-alpha K, IFN-alpha J/ C(Fnu4HI), and I FN-alpha A/D(Bg/II)) were evaluated against rhinovirus types 39 (RV 39 ) and 1A (RV 1A). WI-38 cells were exposed to various concentrations o f each interferon and were then infected with RV 39, RV 1A, or VSV. Ef ficacy was determined by protection from cytopathic effect using a tet razolium dye assay. The 50% inhibitory concentrations ranged from 4 +/ - 3 pg/ml for IFN-alpha C to > 3000 pg/ml for IFN-alpha D against RV 3 9, and from 6 +/- 4 pg/ml for IFN-alpha J/C(Fnu4HI) to >3000 pg/ml for IFN-alpha D against RV 1A. IFN-alpha J/C(Fnu4HI), [Ser-116]IFN-alpha J1, and IFN-alpha C were the most active of the interferons, and were all more active than IFN-alpha A, against RV 39, RV LA, and VSV. These interferons warrant further study against rhinoviruses and other viru ses.