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

Antiviral effect of two nucleotides complementary to tick-borne enceph alitis (TBE) virus genome and their derivatives was compared to that o f noncomplementary oligonucleotides. All the tested reagents influence d TBE multiplication in cell culture, this manifesting by various degr ees of suppression of the cytopathic effect of the virus. Intact oligo nucleotides, both complementary and noncomplementary to TBE, reduced v irus titer by 2-4 orders, whatever the concentration of oligonucleotid e. In some experiments a higher virus-inhibiting effect of complementa ry oligonucleotides (by 3-4 orders) was observed vs. noncomplementary (by 1-2 orders). Moreover, different oligonucleotide derivatives suppr essed virus multiplication in porcine embryo kidney cell culture. In p arallel with investigation of virusinhibitory effect of oligonucleotid es in cell culture, their effects on the synthesis of virusspecific an d cellular proteins was studied. Screening of oligonucleotide derivati ves bp capacity to suppress biosynthesis and multiplication of virus i n cell culture showed the highest efficacy of reaction-capable and cho lesterol derivatives.