NEW ANTIHERPETIC NUCLEOSIDE FROM A BASIDIOMYCETE

Antiviral activity was characterized from the culture broth of the Bas idiomycete Macrocystidia cucumis (Pers. ex Fr.) Helm. When the station ary phase was reached (21 d), the culture broth was shown th rough an ELISA assay to contain antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), as assessed in baby hamster kidney cells (BHK-21). On ce the presence of the anti-HSV-l activity in the culture broth was de monstrated, we proceeded with the purification and isolation of the ac tive principle using a semi-preparative HPLC technique. The activity w as associated with a purine nucleoside designated McA. This compound d isplayed no cytotoxicity at antivirally effective concentrations and p roved to be a novel nucleoside analogue. ((C) Academie des sciences / Elsevier, Paris.).