[What future for ribavirin beyond hepatitis C therapy?].

Most of emerging and re-emerging diseases are due to RNA viruses and available drugs are insufficient. Currently the ribavirin is only licensed for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection, whereas this guanosin analogue has a broad-spectrum in vitro activity against many DNA and RNA viruses. It was consequently used as a last resort, in emergency state like avian influenza or in front of new viruses (SARS).

In vivo antiviral activity of ribavirin/alpha-cyclodextrin complex: evaluation on experimental measles virus encephalitis in mice.

Intracranial injection of the rodent adapted CAM/RB strain of measles virus (MV) induces encephalitis in CBA/ca mice. It has already been shown that cyclodextrins can be used as carriers to increase the antiviral activity of ribavirin (RBV) against MV in cellular model. In this study, the antiviral activity of a RBV/alpha-cyclodextrin complex has been evaluated in vivo using the above model.

Multiple interactions between cryptochrome and phototropin blue-light signalling pathways in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Higher plants contain two structurally unrelated flavoprotein blue-light photoreceptors, the cryptochromes and the phototropins, which mediate largely distinct response pathways. Cryptochromes regulate plant development and photomorphogenesis whereas phototropins are primarily implicated in photomovement responses such as phototropism and chloroplast relocation. In the present study we identify interactions between cryptochromes and phototropins in several photoresponses of Arabidopsis thaliana.

Evaluation by Q-RTPCR of the efficacy of ribavirin complexed with beta-cyclodextrin against measles virus in a mouse encephalitis model.

The objective of this work was to study the antiviral activity of ribavirin on measles encephalitis infection when using cyclodextrins as carriers. The use of cyclic oligosaccharides can promote the activity of many drugs and the benefit of the association of ribavirin with beta-cyclodextrin has already been demonstrated in vitro. Intracranial inoculation of the rodent adapted neurovirulent CAM/RB strain of measles virus induces encephalitis in CBA/ca mice.

Improved antiviral activity in vitro of ribavirin against measles virus after complexation with cyclodextrins.

Despite vaccination, measles remains a burden in both developed and developing countries and complications may necessitate an efficient therapy. Measles virus (MEV) is susceptible to ribavirin (RBV), but the use of this drug is limited by its toxicity. Cyclodextrins (CDs) can form complexes with numerous molecules, improving their bioavailability and their biological properties.