Specific inhibition of vaccinia virus growth by 2'-O-methyladenosine: isolation of a drug-resistant virus mutant.

2'-O-methyladenosine (Am) specifically inhibits growth of vaccinia virus on cultured monkey kidney (BSC40) cells. Specificity has been demonstrated by the isolation of an Am-resistant mutant of vaccinia which forms plaques on Am-treated monolayers of BSC40 cells under conditions where wild type (wt) plaque formation is inhibited. Am inhibits virus growth at an early stage of infection; host shut off and early virus protein synthesis are inhibited by the drug.