Inhibition of influenza virus and interferon response intranasally with statolon.

Statolon, an interferon inducer, when instilled intranasally (IN) protects mice infected with lethal doses of influenza virus via the same route 16 hr later. The existence of interferon has been demonstrated in the trachea and lungs of mice treated IN with statolon, and it is assumed that the protection observed is due to this inhibitor. A dose response is seen with statolon administered IN. The protective activity of statolon instilled IN prophylactically lasts 1 to 2 weeks against influenza virus. Repeated doses of statolon, as many as four, a week apart, are effective. Antigenicity of the statolon (mycophage) particle relative to neutralization of its interferon-inducing capacity, therefore, may not prove to be a problem in clinical testing of this type of interferon inducer. The observed duration of activity of statolon also eliminates the possibility of difficulty due to hyporeactivity of the inducer.