*4.8. Hantavirus*

Hantavirus is a zoonotic RNA virus that causes severe human disease characterized by widespread and extensive hemorrhaging [109]. In vitro studies have demonstrated that pre-treatment of Vero cells with LF (ED50 = 39 μg/mL) significantly reduces Hantavirus foci number [110]. A combination of LF and ribavirin also significantly reduced the number of viral foci where pre-treatment of cells with LF (400 μg/mL), and treatment with ribavirin (100 μg/mL) post infection completely abolished viral foci [109]. In additional synthesis of viral glycoprotein, G2, and nucleocapsid protein (NP) was delayed in LF pretreated cells. In vivo testing revealed that prophylactic LF treatment (160 mg/kg) can significantly improve survival rates following hantavirus infection in suckling mice by up to 70% when compared with non-treated mice [109].
