Specific inhibition of viral ribonucleic acid replication by Gliotoxin.

Gliotoxin inhibits intracellular replication of poliovirus in HeLa cells at a stage subsequent to adsorption and penetration of virus. The sensitive step is synthesis of viral RNA: synthesis of viral protein is unaffected except as a consequence of blockade of RNA synthesis. Concentrations of gliotoxin sufficient to block viral RNA synthesis completely do not affect cellular RNA synthesis.