Effect of (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine on replication of Epstein-Barr virus in human lymphoblastoid cell lines

The effect of (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine (BVDU) on replication of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) was investigated and compared with Acyclovir (ACV). Both drugs inhibited EBV replication very rapidly. However, the inhibitory effect of ACV was readily reversed after removal of the drug, in contrast to the more prolonged effect exerted by BVDU, which persisted for more than 21 days. The 50% inhibitory doses of BVDU for virus replication (ED50) and lymphoblastoid cell growth (ID50) were 0.06 microM and 390 microM, respectively; the in vitro therapeutic index (ID50/ED50) was 6,500. Synthesis of EBV-induced polypeptides with molecular weights of 145K, 140K and 110K was partially reduced by BVDU. When superinfected Raji cells were exposed to 125I-labeled (E)-5-(2-iodovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine (IVDU), larger amounts of (125I)IVDU were incorporated into viral DNA than cellular DNA.