Penetration and Antiviral Activity of Coxsackievirus B3 (Cvb3)-Specific Phosphorothioate Oligodeoxynucleotides (Ps-Odn)

Abstract The antiviral activity of PS-ODNs, complementary to different regions of the CVB3 genome, was investigated under in vitro conditions. Inhibition of CVB3 replication was detected only after prolonged pretreatment of HeLa cells with antiviral active PS-ODNs, but not when virus and PS-ODN were applicated simultaneously. Results from flow cytometric analysis indicate that a low cellular uptake of anti-CVB3 oligonucleotides into HeLa cells might be a reason for their moderate antiviral activity.