Biomaterial Database

Selection and preliminary characterization of acyclovir-resistant mutants of varicella zoster virus. 1982

K K Biron, and J A Fyfe, and J E Noblin, and G B Elion

A series of acyclovir-resistant mutants of varicella zoster virus (VZV) were selected in vitro by serial passage of VZV-infected human fibroblasts in increasing drug concentrations, or by continuous exposure of cultures infected at high multiplicity to 100 microM acyclovir. The in vitro susceptibility of these mutants to several antiherpetic agents was measured by the plaque-reduction assay. The capacity of extracts of cells infected with these mutants to phosphorylate acyclovir was examined and compared with that of their acyclovir-sensitive parent strains. Based on these studies, VZV could be shown to acquire resistance to acyclovir through diminished acyclovir phosphorylation. This was presumable due to loss of viral specific thymidine kinase (TK) function. Two acyclovir-resistant mutants remained TK competent but demonstrated phenotypic changes in sensitivity to antiviral agents known to act at the herpes simplex virus (HSV)-specific DNA polymerase level. These results suggest that the resistance of VZV to acyclovir results from qualitative or quantitative alterations in the virus-specified TK or DNA polymerase.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009154	Mutation	Any detectable and heritable change in the genetic material that causes a change in the GENOTYPE and which is transmitted to daughter cells and to succeeding generations.	Mutations
D010766	Phosphorylation	The introduction of a phosphoryl group into a compound through the formation of an ester bond between the compound and a phosphorus moiety.	Phosphorylations
D004259	DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase	DNA-dependent DNA polymerases found in bacteria, animal and plant cells. During the replication process, these enzymes catalyze the addition of deoxyribonucleotide residues to the end of a DNA strand in the presence of DNA as template-primer. They also possess exonuclease activity and therefore function in DNA repair.	DNA Polymerase,DNA Polymerases,DNA-Dependent DNA Polymerases,DNA Polymerase N3,DNA Dependent DNA Polymerases,DNA Directed DNA Polymerase,DNA Polymerase, DNA-Directed,DNA Polymerases, DNA-Dependent,Polymerase N3, DNA,Polymerase, DNA,Polymerase, DNA-Directed DNA,Polymerases, DNA,Polymerases, DNA-Dependent DNA
D004352	Drug Resistance, Microbial	The ability of microorganisms, especially bacteria, to resist or to become tolerant to chemotherapeutic agents, antimicrobial agents, or antibiotics. This resistance may be acquired through gene mutation or foreign DNA in transmissible plasmids (R FACTORS).	Antibiotic Resistance,Antibiotic Resistance, Microbial,Antimicrobial Resistance, Drug,Antimicrobial Drug Resistance,Antimicrobial Drug Resistances,Antimicrobial Resistances, Drug,Drug Antimicrobial Resistance,Drug Antimicrobial Resistances,Drug Resistances, Microbial,Resistance, Antibiotic,Resistance, Drug Antimicrobial,Resistances, Drug Antimicrobial
D006147	Guanine
D000212	Acyclovir	A GUANOSINE analog that acts as an antimetabolite. Viruses are especially susceptible. Used especially against herpes.	Acycloguanosine,9-((2-Hydroxyethoxy)methyl)guanine,Aci-Sanorania,Acic,Aciclobeta,Aciclostad,Aciclovir,Aciclovir Alonga,Aciclovir-Sanorania,Acifur,Acipen Solutab,Acivir,Activir,Acyclo-V,Acyclovir Sodium,Antiherpes Creme,Avirax,Cicloferon,Clonorax,Cusiviral,Genvir,Herpetad,Herpofug,Herpotern,Herpoviric,Isavir,Laciken,Mapox,Maynar,Milavir,Opthavir,Supraviran,Viclovir,Vipral,Virax-Puren,Virherpes,Virmen,Virolex,Virupos,Virzin,Wellcome-248U,Zoliparin,Zovirax,Zyclir,aciclovir von ct,Aci Sanorania,Aciclovir Sanorania,Acyclo V,Alonga, Aciclovir,Sodium, Acyclovir,Solutab, Acipen,Virax Puren,ViraxPuren,Wellcome 248U,Wellcome248U
D000998	Antiviral Agents	Agents used in the prophylaxis or therapy of VIRUS DISEASES. Some of the ways they may act include preventing viral replication by inhibiting viral DNA polymerase; binding to specific cell-surface receptors and inhibiting viral penetration or uncoating; inhibiting viral protein synthesis; or blocking late stages of virus assembly.	Antiviral,Antiviral Agent,Antiviral Drug,Antivirals,Antiviral Drugs,Agent, Antiviral,Agents, Antiviral,Drug, Antiviral,Drugs, Antiviral
D013937	Thymidine Kinase	An enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of ATP and thymidine to ADP and thymidine 5'-phosphate. Deoxyuridine can also act as an acceptor and dGTP as a donor. (From Enzyme Nomenclature, 1992) EC 2.7.1.21.	Deoxythymidine Kinase,Deoxypyrimidine Kinase,Kinase, Deoxypyrimidine,Kinase, Deoxythymidine,Kinase, Thymidine
D014645	Herpesvirus 3, Human	The type species of VARICELLOVIRUS causing CHICKENPOX (varicella) and HERPES ZOSTER (shingles) in humans.	Chickenpox Virus,Herpes zoster Virus,Ocular Herpes zoster Virus,VZ Virus,Varicella-Zoster Virus,HHV-3,Herpesvirus 3 (alpha), Human,Herpesvirus Varicellae,Human Herpesvirus 3,Chickenpox Viruses,Herpes zoster Viruses,VZ Viruses,Varicella Zoster Virus,Varicella-Zoster Viruses,Varicellae, Herpesvirus