title: Potent and selective inhibition of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) by nucleoside analogues with an unusual bicyclic base.
abstract: We herein report the discovery of an entirely new category of potent antiviral agents based on novel deoxynucleoside analogues with unusual bicyclic base moieties. Target structures, previously known as byproducts in Pd-catalyzed coupling of terminal alkynes with 5-iodo-nucleosides, are recognized herein for the first time to be potent and selective inhibitors of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) in vitro. As an unusual structure-activity relationship we noted the absolute requirement of a long alkyl side chain, with an optimum length of C(8)-C(10), for antiviral activity. We thus report the synthesis and characterization of a series of chain-modified analogues and their extensive in vitro evaluation. The lead compounds have a ca. 300-fold enhancement in anti-VZV activity over the reference compound acyclovir, with no detectable in vitro cytotoxicity. The novel structure of these compounds, coupled with their ease of synthesis, excellent antiviral profile, and promising physical properties, makes them of great interest for possible antiviral drug development.
authors.affiliation: Welsh School of Pharmacy, Cardiff University, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF1 3XF, U.K. mcguigan@cardiff.ac.uk
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McGuigan
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Yarnold
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Velázquez
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Barucki
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brancale
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Andrei
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Snoeck
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Clercq
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Balzarini
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D009705:Nucleosides / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D009705:Nucleosides