[Protective effect of a new antiviral preparation of phosprenyl in experimental tick-borne encephalitis].

Antiviral activity of phosprenyl was studied in BALB/c mice infected with tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus. Up to 60% animals infected with TBE virus survived after 1-3 intramuscular injections of phosprenyl. The mortality in the untreated group infected with the virus was 100%. Direct antiviral effect of phosprenyl was studied in sensitive SPEV cells infected with TBE virus. The titer of the virus decreased 10-fold in the cells treated with the drug vs. untreated control cells. Phosprenyl stimulates some interleukins: gamma-interferon, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin-6. The stimulating effect of the drug manifests in intact animals and in those infected with TBE virus and treated with phosprenyl. The prospects of further trials of the drug as a therapeutic and prophylactic agent in TBE are discussed.