Inhibition of multiple subtypes of influenza A virus in cell cultures with morpholino oligomers

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2006 Nov;50(11):3724-33. doi: 10.1128/AAC.00644-06. Epub 2006 Sep 11.

Abstract

Peptide-conjugated phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers (P-PMO) are single-stranded nucleic acid-like antisense agents that can reduce gene expression by sterically blocking complementary RNA sequence. P-PMO are water soluble and nuclease resistant, and they readily achieve uptake into cells in culture under standard conditions. Eight P-PMO, each 20 to 22 bases in length, were evaluated for their ability to inhibit influenza A virus (FLUAV) A/PR/8/34 (H1N1) replication in cell culture. The P-PMO were designed to base pair with FLUAV RNA sequences that are highly conserved across viral subtypes and considered critical to the FLUAV biological-cycle, such as gene segment termini and mRNA translation start site regions. Several P-PMO were highly efficacious, each reducing viral titer in a dose-responsive and sequence-specific manner in A/PR/8/34-infected cells. Two P-PMO, one designed to target the AUG translation start site region of PB1 mRNA and the other the 3'-terminal region of nucleoprotein viral genome RNA, also proved to be potent against several other FLUAV strains, including A/WSN/33 (H1N1), A/Memphis/8/88 (H3N2), A/Eq/Miami/63 (H3N8), A/Eq/Prague/56 (H7N7), and the highly pathogenic A/Thailand/1(KAN-1)/04 (H5N1). The P-PMO exhibited minimal cytotoxicity in cell viability assays. High efficacy by two of the P-PMO against multiple FLUAV subtypes suggests that these oligomers represent a broad-spectrum therapeutic approach against a high percentage of known FLUAV strains.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antiviral Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral / drug effects
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Design
  • Hemagglutination Tests
  • Humans
  • Influenza A virus / drug effects*
  • Morpholines / chemical synthesis*
  • Morpholines / pharmacology*
  • Protein Biosynthesis / drug effects
  • RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Viral / drug effects
  • Vero Cells
  • Viral Plaque Assay

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Morpholines
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Viral