Comparative efficacy of broad-spectrum antiviral agents as inhibitors of African swine fever virus replication in vitro

Abstract Various nucleoside analogues, selected on the basis of their previously established broad-spectrum antiviral properties, were evaluated for their potency and selectivity as inhibitors of the in vitro replication of the iridovirus, African swine fever virus (ASFV). The test compounds included ( S )-9-(3-hydroxy-2-phosphonylmethoxypropyl)adenine[( S )-HPMPA], 9-(2-phosphonylmethoxyethyl)adenine, ( RS )-3-adenin-9-yl-2-hydroxypropanoic acid isobutyl ester, ( S )-9-(2,3-dihydroxypropyl)adenine, carbocyclic 3-deazaadenosine (C-c 3 Ado), 3′-azido-2′,3′-dideoxythymidine, pyrazofurin and ribavirin. As the most efficacious inhibitors of ASFV replication emerged ( S )-HPMPA followed by C-c 3 Ado. The minimum inhibitory concentration of ( S )-HPMPA for ASFV replication was 0.01 μg/ml, and its selectivity index was 15000. The corresponding values for C-c 3 Ado were 0.025 μg/ml and 8000, respectively. It would seem justified to further pursue these compounds for their anti ASFV activity in vivo.