Antiviral activity and possible mechanisms of action of oligonucleotides-poly(L-lysine) conjugates targeted to vesicular stomatitis virus mRNA and genomic RNA.

Synthetic oligonucleotides (oligomers) complementary to vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) N protein mRNA have specific antiviral properties at concentrations lower than 1 microM when they are covalently linked to poly(L-lysine) (PLL). Since it is generally postulated that antisense oligomers act at the translational level, oligomers with potential targets on VSV viral mRNA and/or genomic RNA have been tested here. In vitro translation experiments in reticulocyte lysates, in vitro transcription experiments with permeabilized viruses, measurement of viral RNA transcription and accumulation in VSV infected cells, and antiviral experiments demonstrate in our model that antisense oligomers probably also act at other levels. Difficulties in the choice of the most effective antisense oligomer targets are also discussed.