Inhibitory Effect of Abitylguanide on Adenovirus Replication

N’N’-anhydro-bis(β-hydroxy-ethyl)biguanide.HCl (abitylguanide) demonstrated a marked inhibitory effect on replication in cell cultures of a broad spectrum of human adenoviruses both standard laboratory strains and strains isolated from epidemic keratoconjunctivitis patients. The strongest inhibitory activity was found in viruses belonging to subgroup C (Rosen’s subgroup III). The compound susceptible period of human adenovirus 5 replication in primary cell cultures of human embryo kidney cells included the total replication cycle and was especially pronounced during the exponential phase of the virus growth curve. Electron microscopy established that the compound decreased the percentage of cells in which mature or empty virions with the characteristic nuclear localization were observed; a complete absence of paracrystals was registered and the number of cells with virus particles arranged in crystals in the nucleoplasm was strongly decreased. Abitylguanide can be considered as a ligand of adenovirus capsid protein(s).

Further studies on induced respiratory viral infection of vervet monkeys (cercopithecus aethiops)

Infection of vervet monkeys with the simian viruses SV5 and SVI7, and an equine rhinovirus, provide useful models of acute respiratory tract disease of man. In these experiments the monkeys were infected with varying concentrations of these viruses. It was found that an inoculum containing a high dose of virus produced a consistent and reproducible pattern of infection, but this was not always achieved when lower doses were used. There was good correlation between the isolation of virus from the respiratory secretions and the development of serum antibody. The selection of an optimum dose of infecting virus, when using these models for the evaluation of antiviral compounds, is discussed. Quantitative studies of the respiratory secretions produced a flat type of virus growth curve, but the titres were moderately high. The possible value of using this elaboration of the basic test procedure is discussed.