title: The anti-HIV activity of the phytochemical alpha-terthienyl.
abstract: The plant trithiophene, alpha-terthienyl (alpha T), was evaluated for activity against the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1). Antiviral activity specifically required long wavelength light (UVA, 320-400 nm). The compound had little or no activity in visible light or in the dark. The anti-HIV effect was UVA-dose dependent and was proportional to the concentration of alpha T, according to several parameters of virus infectivity and replication. The efficacy was decreased to some extent by the presence of bovine serum in the reactions; but under optimal conditions 0.1 microgram/ml. alpha T (3 x 10(-7) M) could inactivate 10(4)-10(5) infectious particles. In contrast poliovirus and Coxsackievirus infectivity were relatively resistant to alpha T + UVA.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Microbiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Hudson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Teeple
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Towers
mesh_terms: D001769:Blood / Q000378:metabolism; D003588:Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000378:metabolism; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000528:radiation effects; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; D013876:Thiophenes; C019101:alpha-terthienyl