Research Area: Infection
Biological Activity:
Ribavirin (Copegus) is an anti-viral agent indicated for severe RSV infection (individually), hepatitis C infection and other viral infections. In this form ribavirin interferes with RNA metabolism required for viral replication. Ribavirin 5’ mono- di- and tri-phosphates are all inhibitors of certain viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases which are a feature of anti-sense RNA viruses. Ribavirin 5’-monophosphate inhibits cellular inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase, thereby depleting intracellular pools of GTP. Ribavirin enhances host T-cell-mediated immunity against viral infection through helping to switch the host T-cell phenotype from type 2 to type 1. [1][2]