Evaluation of the in vitro Effect of the Interferon Produced by Bovine Ephemeral Fever Virus on Foot and Mouth Disease Virus

This paper presents a potential strategy for the development of an antiviral agent against FMDV, specifically O Pan-Asia-2, A Iran 05 and SAT2/EGY/2012. Examining the potential use of interferon from the Bovine Ephemeral Fever Virus (BEFV) as a therapy is an intriguing approach. In order to test the cell toxicity and anti-FMDV in African green monkey kidney cell (Vero) and Baby Hamster Kidney Cell (BHK) cell lines up to serial dilutions of 10-7, BEFV was used to produce interferon in Vero and MDBK cell lines 12, 24, and 48 hours after cell infection. The in vitro findings showed that the cell safety and the ability of the prepared interferon to exhibit antiviral effects against various three FMDV serotypes, especially when administered shortly before or concurrently with the virus, are encouraging. The highest anti-FMDV effective dilution of the obtained interferon, either by Vero or MDBK cells, ranged from 10-3 to 10-4. This suggests that the interferon may be able to activate cellular antiviral mechanisms and disrupt FMDV infection. The next critical step will be conducting further in vivo studies to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and potential side effects of the interferon-based treatment. This will provide important insights into virus-host interactions and the broader therapeutic potential of this approach. Some key areas for future research could include: expanding the testing of the interferon against additional FMDV serotypes to assess its breadth of coverage; Optimizing the administration parameters, such as timing, dose, and route, to maximize the antiviral effect, Investigating the specific mechanisms by which the interferon inhibits FMDV replication and spread, Evaluating the interferon's impact on disease progression and transmission in animal models, Assessing any potential negative effects or toxicity in the treated animals. The development of effective antivirals against FMDV is critical for controlling outbreaks and protecting livestock. This research represents a promising line of investigation that warrants further study.