Evaluation of a Topical Interferon Inducer in Experimental Influenza Infection in Volunteers

Abstract

The prophylactic and/or therapeutic effect of a low-molecular-weight interferon inducer, CP-20,961, was tested in a double-blind placebo controlled study of experimental influenza A/England/42/72 (H3N2) infection in normal volunteers. Ten volunteers received 961 and 10 received placebo. Interferon was detected in nasal secretions of nine of the former and three of the latter group (P < 0.05). Seven in each group became ill, and severity of illness was not different. Also, quantitative virus shedding patterns and antibody response were not different between the two groups. The negative result may have been due to the relatively low quantities of interferon induced.

Influenza A virus infection kinetics: quantitative data and models

“…An additional source of virus, such as from infected AMs, could explain the plateau, or potential second peak, in viral titers observed in some experimental infections during the recovery phase of infection (usually between days 5-7) [9, 10, 22, 36, 41, 50, 69, 70, 80]. One explanation of this phenomena came from a model which suggested that the decreasing interferon response could allow for an increase in viral production [2].…”

Effect of Bovine 1 Interferon on Bovine Herpesvirus Type 1-induced Respiratory Disease

“…Since the discovery of interferon (Isaacs & Lindenmann, 1957) and the demonstration that it could inhibit replication of a wide variety of viruses in vitro, considerable interest has been generated concerning its potential application as an antiviral agent in vivo (Arvin et al, 1976;Merigan, 1982;Merigan et al, 1968Merigan et al, , 1973Merigan et al, , 1978De Clercq & De Somer, 1968;Douglas & Betts, 1974;Dziewanowska & Pestka, 1982). Although the quantities and purity of interferon were limited, various groups have clearly demonstrated that in at least some virus diseases, treatment with exogenous interferon has a beneficial effect.…”

B cell function and influenza vaccine responses in healthy aging and disease

“…The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology recommend influenza vaccination as part of comprehensive secondary prevention in children, adults and elderly individuals with coronary and other atherosclerotic vascular diseases [67]. Nevertheless, influenza vaccination coverage levels among persons with CVD remain below national goals and influenza-related death is more common among individuals with CVD than among patients with any other chronic condition [68,69]. This situation is exacerbated in the elderly in which the dysregulation of the inflammatory network due to various age-associated chronic stresses also occur, increasing the susceptibility of these individuals to develop CVD [70].…”