Sofosbuvir shows a protective effect against vertical transmission of Zika virus and the associated congenital syndrome in rhesus monkeys.

Sofosbuvir shows a protective effect against vertical transmission of Zika virus and the associated congenital syndrome in rhesus monkeys. Antiviral Res. 2020 Jul 07;:104859 Authors: Gardinali NR, Marchevsky RS, Oliveira JM, Pelajo-Machado M, Kugelmeier T, Castro MP, Silva ACA, Pinto DP, Fonseca LB, Vilhena LS, Pereira HM, Lima SMB, Miranda EH, Trindade GF, Linhares JHR, Silva SA, Melgaco JG, Alves AMB, Moran J, Silva MCC, Soares-Bezerra RJ, Soriano A, Bentes GA, de Oliveira Bottino F, Salvador Castro Faria SB, Nudelman RF, Lopes CAA, Perea JAS, Sarges K, Andrade MCR, Motta MCVA, Freire MS, Souza TML, Schmidt-Chanasit J, Pinto MA Abstract The outbreaks of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection in Brazil, 2015-2016, were associated with severe congenital malformations. Our translational study aimed to test the efficacy of the antiviral agent sofosbuvir (SOF) against vertical transmission of ZIKV and the associated congenital syndrome (CZS), using a rhesus monkey model. Eight pregnant macaques were successfully infected during the organogenesis phase with a Brazilian ZIKV strain; five of them received SOF from two to fifteen days post-infection. Both groups of dams showed ZIKV-associated clinical signals, detectable ZIKV RNA in several specimens, specific anti-ZIKV IgM and IgG antibodies, and maternal neutralizing antibodies. However, malformations occurred only among non-treated dam offspring. Compared to non-treated animals, all SOF-treated dam...
Source: Antiviral Research - Category: Virology Authors: Tags: Antiviral Res Source Type: research