E. De Cercq, M. Luczak
Jul 15, 1975
Citations
2
Influential Citations
67
Citations
Quality indicators
Journal
Life sciences
Abstract
Abstract 4-fluoroimidazole (4-FI), 4-fluoroimidazole-5-carboxylic acid (4-FIC), 4-fluoroimidazole-5-carboxamide (4-FICA), and 5-fluoro-1-β-D-ribofuranosylimidazole-4-carboxamide (5-FICAR), have been studied for their inhibitory effects on viral cytopathogenecity in a variety of assay systems encompassing nearly all major virus groups. Ribavirin (1-β-D-ribofuranosyl-1,2,4-triazole-3-carbox-amide), 5-AICAR (5-amino-1-β-D-ribofuranosylimidazole-4-carbox-amide), and poly(I)βpoly (C) were included as reference materials. Although the antiviral activities of ribavirin and the fluoroimidazoles varied considerably from one system to another, the relative order of activity remained constant: ribavirin >5-FICAR > 5-AICAR > 4-FICA. 4-FIC and 4-FI were inactive. Poly(I)βpoly (C) exhibited a spectrum of antiviral activity that differed totally from that of 5-FICAR and the other compounds. Unlike 5-AICAR, both 5-FICAR and ribavirin inhibited cellular DNA3 and RNA synthesis, as determined by [3H-methyl]thymidine and [3H-5]uridine incorporation, respectively, at concentrations which coincided quite well with those inhibiting viral cytopathogenicity. Hence, 5-FICAr and ribavirin may owe their broad-spectrum antiviral activity to inhibition of nucleic acid synthesis in the infected cell.