Interferon-β 1a and SARS Coronavirus Replication

Interferon-β 1a and SARS Coronavirus Replication

Lisa E. Hensley, Elizabeth A. Fritz, Peter B. Jahrling, Christopher Karp, John W. Huggins, Thomas W. Geisbert

A global outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) caused by a novel coronavirus began in March 2003. The rapid emergence of SARS and the substantial illness and death it caused have made it a critical public health issue. Because no effective treatments are available, an intensive effort is under way to identify and test promising antiviral drugs. Here, we report that recombinant human interferon (IFN)-β 1a potently inhibits SARS coronavirus replication in vitro.

2004

SARS, interferon, coronavirus, treatment, therapy

DOI: 10.3201/eid1002.030482

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Infectious and parasitic diseases, Medicine

EN