The effect of the antiviral agent 9-(2-hydroxyethoxymethyl)guanine (acyclovir) on herpes simplex virus type 1 protein synthesis during virus replication was examined. Treatment of infected cells with acyclovir markedly affected the amounts of the four major glycosylated and certain non-glycosylated viral polypeptides synthesized; other viral polypeptides were made in normal amounts. The reduced...

Epstein-Barr virus transformed human lymphocytes despite the presence of up to 500 microM acyclovir [9-(2-hydroxyethoxymethyl)guanine], a viral DNA polymerase inhibitor. The transformed cells contained multiple Epstein-Barr virus genome copy numbers. Functional viral DNA polymerase is probably not required for cell transformation and the initial amplification of the viral genome.

Eczema herpeticum is a serious herpes simplex virus infection that may have a fatal outcome. Effective antiviral therapy is therefore imperative. Acyclvoir (9-[2-hydroxyethoxymethyl]-guanine) is a new antiviral agent with high potency and low toxic effect. We treated three cases of eczema herpeticum successfully with acyclovir.

The efficacy of human alpha interferon (IFN-alpha) combined with 9-(2'-hydroxyethoxymethyl)guanine (acyclovir; ACV), (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine, 9-beta-D-arabinofuranosyladenine, or 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine on the inhibition of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) replication in human embryonic lung cells was analyzed by plaque reduction assays. IFN-alpha combined with 9-beta-D-arabi...