Sensitivity Characteristics of Genotype 2 West Nile Virus Strains to Anti-Viral Drugs

Background. Annual studies of West Nile virus (WNV) circulating in endemic areas are necessary to characterize its properties and track them over time. Given the lack of specific antiviral therapy for West Nile fever (WNF), it is of interest to study sensitivity to drugs widely used in modern practice.

The aim of the study is to study the sensitivity of West Nile virus strains circulating in the Russian Federation in 2018–2021 to drugs used to treat viral infections.

Material and methods. The sensitivity of WNV strains to ribavirin, riamilovir, and umifenovir was determined using Vero cell culture.

Results and discussion. A study of the sensitivity of WNV strains circulating in the Russian Federation in 2018–2021 to therapeutic drugs used to treat viral infections showed their heterogeneity in this regard. Thus, 5 strains (WNV_Volgograd_601/18, Volgograd_723/18, Volgograd_830/18, Voronezh_794/21, Astrachan_962/21) out of 10 studied were characterized by some differences in resistance to ribavirin and riamilovir. No statistically significant differences were revealed when comparing drug resistance indicators of the group of WNV strains of the «old» genovariant with those of the «new» group.

Conclusion. Further analysis of the genome of the studied WNV strains will allow us to establish genetic characteristics, which may contribute to the establishment of molecular mechanisms of resistance to ribavirin, riamilovir, and umifenovir.

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