Inhibition of norovirus replication by morpholino oligomers targeting the 5'-end of the genome

Virology. 2008 Oct 25;380(2):328-37. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2008.08.007. Epub 2008 Sep 9.

Abstract

Noroviruses are an important cause of non-bacterial epidemic gastroenteritis, but no specific antiviral therapies are available. We investigated the inhibitory effect of phosphorodiamidiate morpholino oligomers (PMOs) targeted against norovirus sequences. A panel of peptide-conjugated PMOs (PPMOs) specific for the murine norovirus (MNV) genome was developed, and two PPMO compounds directed against the first AUG of the ORF1 coding sequence near the 5'-end of the genome proved effective in inhibiting MNV replication in cells. A consensus PPMO (designated Noro 1.1), designed to target the corresponding region of several diverse human norovirus genotypes, decreased the efficiency of protein translation in a cell-free luciferase reporter assay and inhibited Norwalk virus protein expression in replicon-bearing cells. Our data suggest that PPMOs directed against the relatively conserved 5'-end of the norovirus genome may show broad antiviral activity against this genetically diverse group of viruses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Morpholines / pharmacology*
  • Norovirus / drug effects*
  • Protein Biosynthesis / drug effects
  • RNA, Viral / metabolism*
  • Virus Replication / drug effects*

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Morpholines
  • RNA, Viral