Inhibition of African swine fever virus DNA synthesis by (S)-9-(3-hydroxy-2-phosphonylmethoxypropyl)adenine

The acyclic nucleotide analogue ()-9-(3-hydroxy-2-phosphonylmethoxypropyl)adenine [()-HPMPA] is a potent and selective inhibitor of African swine fever virus (ASFV) replication. Using the DNA-DNA hybridization technique with plasmid pRPEL-2 as probe, we have shown that ()-HPMPA exerts a specific, dose-dependent, inhibitory effect on viral DNA synthesis. Also, ()-HPMPA inhibits the production of late viral proteins, especially IP-73, in ASFV-infected MS and Vero cells. When evaluated under the same experimental conditions, phosphonoacetic acid (PAA) also caused an inhibition of viral DNA and late viral protein synthesis but only so at a concentration which was 10- to 20-fold higher than that required for ()-HPMPA.
This work was supported by the Spanish Comisidn Asesora de Investigation Cientifica y Tecnica (CAICYT) the Belgian Fonds voor Geneeskundig Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (Project no. 3.0040.83) and the Belgian Geconcerteerde Onderzoeksacties (Project no. 85/90-79). D.G.V. is the holder of a Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas Research Scholarship.