Open AccessSusceptibilities of Human Cytomegalovirus Clinical Isolates and Other Herpesviruses to New Acetylated, Tetrahalogenated Benzimidazole d -Ribonucleosides
Author(s) -
Jae-Seon Hwang,
Rita Schilf,
John C. Drach,
Leroy B. Townsend,
Elke Bogner
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.07
H-Index - 259
eISSN - 1070-6283
pISSN - 0066-4804
DOI - 10.1128/aac.00809-09
Subject(s) - human cytomegalovirus , biology , herpes simplex virus , virology , benzimidazole , protein subunit , ganciclovir , virus quantification , viral replication , varicella zoster virus , virus , herpesviridae , microbiology and biotechnology , cytomegalovirus , concatemer , chemistry , biochemistry , viral disease , organic chemistry , genome , gene
Recently we characterized two inhibitors targeting the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) terminase, 2-bromo-4,5,6-trichloro-1-(2,3,5-tri-O -acetyl-β-d -ribofuranosyl) benzimidazole (BTCRB) and 2,4,5,6-tetrachloro-1-(2,3,5-tri-O -acetyl-β-d -ribofuranosyl) benzimidazole (Cl4 RB). The terminase consists of the ATP-hydrolyzing subunit pUL56 and the subunit pUL89 required for duplex nicking. Because mammalian cell DNA replication does not involve cleavage of concatemeric DNA by a terminase, these compounds represent attractive alternative HCMV antivirals. We now have tested these previously identified benzimidazole ribonucleosides in order to determine if they are active against HCMV clinical isolates as well as those of herpes simplex virus type 1, mouse cytomegalovirus, rat cytomegalovirus (RCMV), and varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Antiviral activity was quantified by measurement of viral plaque formation (plaque reduction) and by viral growth kinetics. Interestingly, both BTCRB and Cl4 RB had an inhibitory effect in ganciclovir (GCV)-sensitive and GCV-resistant clinical isolates, with the best effect produced by Cl4 RB. Electron microscopy revealed that in cells infected with GCV-sensitive or GCV-resistant isolates, B capsids and dense bodies were formed mainly. Furthermore, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis showed that cleavage of concatenated DNA was inhibited in clinical isolates. In addition, the antiviral effect on other herpesviruses was determined. Interestingly, in plaque reduction assays, BTCRB was active against all tested herpesviruses. The best effects were observed on VZV- and RCMV-infected cells. These results demonstrate that the new compounds are highly active against GCV-resistant and GCV-sensitive clinical isolates and slightly active against other herpesviruses.