查看文章

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a newly recognized pathogen that like its better-known relative, human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV), appears to be ubiquitous and an important cause of respiratory disease in diverse subpopulations. No antivirals or vaccines are currently approved for the treatment or prevention of hMPV infections. However, ribavirin is licensed to treat serious hRSV-induced infections in children and immune globulin designed for intravenous administration (IVIG) and palivizumab (Synagis™), a humanized monoclonal antibody preparation, have been utilized as alternatives to vaccines for preventing or reducing the severity of infections caused by this virus. Because both ribavirin and IVIG have broad viral specificities, studies were performed to compare the ability of these two agents to inhibit the replication of hRSV and hMPV in tissue culture-based assays. Two experimental …