Inhibitory effect of a new antibiotic, guanine 7-N-oxide, on the replication of several RNA viruses.

Guanine 7-N-oxide (G-7-Ox) was examined for its antiviral activity against 9 viruses based on plaque reduction, neuraminidase activity reduction, a fluorescent antibody technique or ELISA. The following viruses were included in the tests: influenza, Sendai, simian virus 5 (SV5), respiratory syncytial, western equine encephalitis, Japanese encephalitis, vesicular stomatitis, rabies and polio. G-7-Ox showed broad anti-RNA viral activity against all viruses tested, except for poliovirus. Inhibition of persistent SV5 infection by G-7-Ox indicates that its antiviral activity is independent of cytotoxicity.