Antiviral Activity of Marine Actinobacteria against Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus, a Surrogate Model of the Hepatitis C Virus

The HCV infection is a major cause of human hepatitis worldwide and the World Health Organization estimates that virus chronically infected about 170 million people [10-11]. These patients usually do not show clinical symptoms until they evolve into serious cases [12]. This represents a major public health problem worldwide, because patients with chronic HCV infection present a high risk of developing liver cirrhosis and even hepatocellular carcinoma [13]. Antiviral Activity of Marine Actinobacteria against Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus, a Surrogate Model of the Hepatitis C Virus Juliana Cristina Santiago Bastos1, Cláudia Beatriz Afonso de Menezes2, Fabiana Fantinatti-Garboggini2, Marina Aiello Padilla1, Clarice Weis Arns1, Luciana Konecny Kohn1* 1Laboratory of Virology, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Bioagents, University of Campinas UNICAMP, Cx. Postal 6109, CEP 13083-970, Campinas, SP, Brazil. 2Multidisciplinary Center for Biological and Agricultural Chemical Research, University of Campinas UNICAMP, Av. Alexandre Cazelatto, 999, Betel, CEP 13148-218, Paulínia, SP, Brazil.