title: Antiviral activity and inhibition of topoisomerase by ofloxacin, a new quinolone derivative.
abstract: The antiviral activity of ofloxacin, a new quinolone derivative, against vaccinia virus (VV), herpes simplex virus (HSV) and influenza virus (InfV) was evaluated in both in vitro and in vivo experiments. As a result, ofloxacin showed inhibitory activity against VV in cultured mammalian cells, and prevented formation of pox tail lesions in VV-infected mice. However, it was less effective against HSV and InfV than VV. The antiviral activity of ofloxacin assessed by VV tail-lesion test was strongest when administered to mice through the oral route daily for five consecutive days post-infection. Nalidixic acid and novobiocin, well-known gyrase inhibitors, showed only weak antiviral activity in both in vitro and in vivo tests against VV. It was also demonstrated that ofloxacin inhibited virus-specific DNA and RNA syntheses. It was more inhibitory to VV topoisomerase than cellular topoisomerases. Thus, ofloxacin has selectivity for VV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology and Immunology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kitasato University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yazawa
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nishimura
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002460:Cell Line; D005260:Female; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D015242:Ofloxacin; D009975:Orthomyxoviridae / Q000187:drug effects*; D010078:Oxazines / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000187:drug effects*; D059004:Topoisomerase I Inhibitors; D014615:Vaccinia / Q000188:drug therapy; D014616:Vaccinia virus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D010078:Oxazines; D059004:Topoisomerase I Inhibitors; D015242:Ofloxacin