Comparison of an antiviral activity of recombinant consensus interferon with recombinant interferon-alpha-2b

To avoid possible uncertainty in comparing biological activities of interfe ron samples from different sources where interferon concentrations were det ermined independently, we prepared chromatographically pure preparations of consensus interferon and interferon-alpha-2b (one of the two commercially available recombinant alpha interferons). We revealed that consensus interf eron has a stronger antiviral activity than interferon-alpha-2b, although t he effects of these two recombinant interferons on the cellular macromolecu le synthesis are at similar levels. (C) 1999 Editons scientifiques et medic ales Elsevier SAS.