Selective antiviral activity of the antibiotic 2'-amino-2'-deoxyribofuranosyl adenine

The effect of new anti-mycoplasmal antibiotic, 2'-amino-2-deoxy-9-beta-D-ribofuranosyl adenine (2-AA) on virus multiplication was investigated. The 2-AA inhibited only the multiplication of measles virus among the viruses tested; i.e., herpes simplex virus, BK virus, vesicular stomatitis virus, measles virus and Echo virus. At a concentration of 5 micrograms/ml of 2-AA, the inhibition of measles virus replication was complete, i.e., no infectious virus nor viral antigen detected. In contrast, 9-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl adenine (50 micrograms/ml) was active to herpes simplex virus and BK virus, and was inactive to measles virus, vesicular stomatitis virus and Echo virus. Results described herein may suggest that 2-AA affects the late function (perhaps the translation step) of the replication of measles virus.