ANTIVIRAL EFFECTS ON MOUSE LEUKEMIA VIRUS REPLICATION BY OLIGODEOXYNUCLEOTIDES IN VITRO AND IN VIVO

Oligodeoxynucleotides (Oligomers) including modified and unmodified, homo- and heterooligomers were tested for their ability to inhibit mouse SRS leukemia virus (SRSV)-induced proliferation of cells, colony formation, syncytinm formation and reverse transcriptase (RT) activity in vitro. Phosphorothioate analogs complementary to Mo-MuLV sequences, as well as noncomplementary homooligomers, were found to be active. Unmodified homooligomer (dC14) also showed inhibition of growth of ascific lymphoma carrying SRS virus. Our study suggests that different classes of oligonucleotides may inhibit SRSV replication with different mechanisms.