Anti-viral Activity of Single-stranded Homopolynucleotides Against Encephalomyocarditis Virus and Semliki Forest Virus in Adult Mice without Interferon Induction

Abstract

Cellular RNA and protein synthesis are required both for interferon synthesis (Heller, 1963; Wagner, 1963) and the expression of the antivirus activity of interferon (Taylor, 1964). The suppression of the antivirus activity of interferon by metabolic inhibitors has been interpreted to mean that interferon acts as a de-repressor for the synthesis of a cellular antivirus protein. While direct proof for the interferon-induced antivirus protein is still lacking, recent circumstantial evidence supports this interpretation (Dianzani, Buckler & Baron, 1968; Stewart & Lockart, 1970).