Editing Ribavirin (section)

===RNA viruses===
Ribavirin's [[carboxamide|amide]] group can make the native nucleoside drug resemble [[adenosine]] or guanosine, depending on its rotation. For this reason, when ribavirin is incorporated into RNA, as a base analog of either adenine or guanine, it pairs equally well with either [[uracil]] or [[cytosine]], inducing mutations in RNA-dependent replication in RNA viruses. Such hypermutation can be lethal to RNA viruses.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Ortega-Prieto AM, Sheldon J, Grande-Pérez A, Tejero H, Gregori J, Quer J, Esteban JI, Domingo E, Perales C | title = Extinction of hepatitis C virus by ribavirin in hepatoma cells involves lethal mutagenesis | journal = PLOS ONE | volume = 8 | issue = 8 | pages = e71039 | year = 2013 | pmid = 23976977 | pmc = 3745404 | doi = 10.1371/journal.pone.0071039 | veditors = Vartanian JP | doi-access = free | bibcode = 2013PLoSO...871039O }}</ref><ref name="pmid11907645">{{cite journal | vauthors = Crotty S, Cameron C, Andino R | title = Ribavirin's antiviral mechanism of action: lethal mutagenesis? | journal = Journal of Molecular Medicine | volume = 80 | issue = 2 | pages = 86–95 | date = February 2002 | pmid = 11907645 | doi = 10.1007/s00109-001-0308-0 | s2cid = 52851826 }}</ref>