ANTIVIRAL EFFECT OF VARIOUS OLIGONUCLEOTIDE DERIVATIVES COMPLEMENTARY TO TICK-BORNE ENCEPHALITIS-VIRUS RNA

Antiviral effect of two nucleotides complementary to tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus genome and their derivatives was compared to that of noncomplementary oligonucleotides. All the tested reagents influenced TBE multiplication in cell culture, this manifesting by various degrees of suppression of the cytopathic effect of the virus. Intact oligonucleotides, both complementary and noncomplementary to TBE, reduced virus titer by 2-4 orders, whatever the concentration of oligonucleotide. In some experiments a higher virus-inhibiting effect of complementary oligonucleotides (by 3-4 orders) was observed vs. noncomplementary (by 1-2 orders). Moreover, different oligonucleotide derivatives suppressed virus multiplication in porcine embryo kidney cell culture. In parallel with investigation of virusinhibitory effect of oligonucleotides in cell culture, their effects on the synthesis of virusspecific and cellular proteins was studied. Screening of oligonucleotide derivatives bp capacity to suppress biosynthesis and multiplication of virus in cell culture showed the highest efficacy of reaction-capable and cholesterol derivatives.