Antiviral effects of single-stranded polynucleotide inhibitors of the influenza virion-associated transcriptase against influenza virus infection of hamsters and ferrets.

Administration of a single-stranded polynucleotide copolymer containing 9% cytidine residues and 91% 4-thiouridine residues [poly(C,S4U10)], a known potent inhibitor of the virion transcriptase of influenza viruses, suppressed the amount of virus recoverable from the nasal washes of influenza virus-infected hamsters and ferrets. The incidence of sneezing and nasal discharge in infected ferrets was also reduced. In hamsters, poly(C,S4U10) was more effective than amantadine-HCl or Virazole. Polyinosinic acid in combination with poly-5-hydroxy cytidylic acid also had anti-influenza effects. Poly(C,S4U10) annealed to polyadenylic acid was not effective, nor was the double-stranded polymer (polyinosinic acid) . (polycytidylic acid) even when complexed with carboxymethylcellulose and polylysine. No toxic effects of poly(C,S4U10) were apparent in the treated hamsters and ferrets, and high doses (greater than or equal to 2.86 g/kg) administered intraperitoneally to mice produced no adverse effects.