Therapy and short-term prophylaxis of poxvirus infections: historical background and perspectives.

摘要: The era of antiviral chemotherapy started more than 50 years with the findings by Domagk and his colleagues that thiosemicarbazones showed activity against vaccinia virus. One of the derivatives, methisazone, was even investigated in the prophylaxis of smallpox. With the successful implementation of the smallpox vaccine, the use of methisazone was not further pursued. Should there be a threat of smallpox or other poxvirus infections, that could not be immediately controlled by vaccination, a therapeutic intervention could be envisaged based …