Interferon induction by and toxicity of polyriboinosinic acid [poly(rI)].polyribocytidylic acid [poly (rC)], mismatched analog poly (rI).poly[r(C12Uracil)n], and poly(rI).poly(rC) L-lysine complexed with carboxymethylcellulose

Oligonucleotides and polyribonucleotides: a review of antiviral activity

Current antiviral therapies are insufficient for treating emerging, re-emerging and established viral diseases. In an effort to find new therapeutics, oligo- and polyribonucleotides are being studied for their antiviral capabilities. Studies have shown that uniquely modified single- and double-stranded nucleic acid constructs are effective in inhibiting viral proliferation by various mechanisms. This review gives a brief history and highlights the development of oligo- and polyribonucleotides as antiviral agents primarily in the fields of interferon induction, mRNA complementation and reverse transcriptase inhibition.

Human serum digests poly(rI) X poly(rC) differently from other mammalian sera

Using a new spectrophotometric assay, we found that human serum digests predominately (rC)n of (rI)n X (rC)n, in agreement with results of Nordlund et al. (Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med., 1970, 133, 439-444) and DeClercq (Eur. J. Biochem., 1979, 93, 165-172) while rhesus monkey, cat, and rabbit sera digest primarily (rI)n. The results of Nordlund et al. also show (in agreement with our results) that human serum digests more of the (rC)n strand of (rI)n X (rC)n than rabbit serum. However, their results differ from ours, since they found that rabbit serum digests nearly equal, but small amounts of (rI)n and (rC)n. Results are discussed in relation to interferon (IFN) induction and toxicity following administration of (rI)n X (rC)n.