Open AccessStructure-Activity Relationship of a New Class of Anti-Hepatitis B Virus Agents
Author(s) -
Anand Mehta,
Bertha Conyers,
D. Lorne Tyrrell,
Kathie–Anne Walters,
Graham Tipples,
Raymond A. Dwek,
Timothy M. Block
Publication year - 2002
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.46.12.4004-4008.2002
Subject(s) - hepatitis b virus , virology , biology , nucleoside , virus , lamivudine , galactose , biochemistry
N-Nonyl-deoxy-galactonojirimycin (N-nonyl-DGJ) has been shown to reduce the amount of hepatitis B virus (HBV) produced by tissue cultures under conditions where cell viability is not affected. We show here that the compound N-nonyl-DGJ was effective against lamivudine-resistant HBV mutants bearing the YMDD motif in the polymerase gene, consistent with the compound's activity being distinct from those of nucleoside inhibitors. To better understand the chemical structures that influence its antiviral activity, a series of imino sugar derivatives were made and tested for their antiviral activity against HBV. This work suggests that the antiviral activity of the alkovirs requires an alkyl chain length of at least eight carbons but that the galactose-based head group can be modified with little or no loss in activity.