Inhibition of Borna disease virus replication by ribavirin

The guanosine analogue ribavirin was tested for antiviral activity in two n eural cell lines, human oligodendrocytes and rat glia, against Borna diseas e virus (BDV) strains V and He/80. Ribavirin treatment resulted in lower le vels of virus and viral transcripts within 12 h. Addition of guanosine but not adenosine resulted in a profound reduction of the ribavirin effect. Rib avirin appears to be an effective antiviral agent for treatment of BDV infe ction in vitro. A likely mechanism for its activity is reduction of the int racellular GTP pool, resulting in inhibition of transcription and capping o f BDV mRNAs.