COMPARISON OF THE IN-VITRO HOST-RANGE OF RECOMBINANT MET-INTERFERON-CON(1), INTERFERON-ALPHA(2A), AND INTERFERON-BETA

The antiviral activity of human r-metIFN-con(1) was compared with that of IFN-alpha(2a) and IFN-beta on a number of human, other primate, rodent, feline, and canine cell lines. Although the specific activities of r-metIFN-con(1) and IFN-alpha(2a) differed 10-fold, the host range was very similar. The host range of IFN-beta differed from that of r-metIFN-con(1) and IFN-alpha(2a) in that Vero cells were 100-fold better protected by IFN-beta and MDBK protected at a 100-fold less efficiency. In general, there were only minor differences between the host ranges of the three interferons, human and primate cells being better protected than those of other species, However, the tissue of origin of the cell appears to be more important than the species of origin in defining host range.