Abstract
The naturally occurring polyine, thiarubrine-A, was evaluated for its antiviral properties
in the presence and absence of long wave UV radiation (UV-A). Four viruses and a mammalian
cell line were used as targets. The two mammalian viruses, murine cytomegalovirus
and Sindbis virus, both of which possess membranes, were extremely sensitive to the
compound, but only in the presence of UV-A radiation. The bacteriophage T4 was slightly
affected in UV-A only, whereas the bacteriophage M13 was completely unaffected. Thus
thiarubrine A is photoactive against membrane containing viruses. In contrast mouse
cells were moderately sensitive to the compound in the presence of UV-A, and somewhat
less sensitive in the dark. Thus thiarubrine-A exhibits different activities against
different organisms.
