Therapeutical effect of modified adamantane copolymer compounds: Study of molecular mechanisms

Copolymers of N-polyvinylpyrrolidone-acrylic acid (AB-1) and adamantane der ivatives are known to possess marked antiviral activity in in vitro and in ovo models. Among the constructed preparations of AB-1 modified by adamanta ne derivatives some, especially AB-4 (modified by deitiforin), were found t o show more extended antiviral activity and to inhibit markedly virus repro duction in susceptible permissive cell cultures and chicken embryos. In AB- 4 treated cells and allantoic sacs, virus titers (influenza virus, herpes v irus, and HIV) and virus antigen concentration were decreased. On the other hand, herpes virus-specific thymidine kinase and of DNA-polymerases isolat ed from Escherichia coil, Plectonema boryanum, and herpes virus type 1 infe cted murine brain tissue retained their activity after incubation with AB-4 or AB-2. The compounds investigated, in view of their effect on virus repr oduction, are thought to be prospective as antiviral agents.