title: Synergistic antiviral effect in vitro of azidothymidine and amphotericin B methyl ester in combination on HIV infection.
abstract: The nucleoside analogue azidothymidine (AZT) and the methyl ester of amphotericin B (AME) were assayed for antiviral effect on HIV infection singly and in combination. Both compounds were effective in inhibiting HIV infection of MT-4 cells. At concentrations where either compound alone had no significant effect on infection, the compounds in combination were potent inhibitors of HIV as evaluated by reduction in HIV antigen production and HIV induced cytopathic effect. These results indicate that a combination therapy employing compounds with different modes of action like AZT and AME may have synergistic antiviral properties. Amphotericin B itself significantly reduced HIV infectivity in vitro and should not be used as an antifungal agent in cultures intended to propagate HIV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Svenningsen
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Witzke
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Mathiesen
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006678:HIV / Q000187:drug effects*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; C017501:methylamphotericin B; D015215:Zidovudine; D000666:Amphotericin B