Abstract
A newly defined taxonomic group, arenaviruses, has been proposed (Rowe et al. 1970a, Wildy 1971) on the basis of similarity in virus structure (Murphy et al. 1970), RNA content, sensitivity to lipid solvents, and a group specific antigen demonstrable by immunofluorescence (Rowe et al. 1970b). Lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM) virus was designated the prototype of the group, which presently includes Lassa fever virus and members of the Tacaribe complex of viruses. We wish to report that synthesis of all arenaviruses thus far tested is reduced in the presence of amantadine hydrochloride.
The spectrum of viruses inhibited in vitro by amantadine hydrochloride is narrow: most influenza A viruses, Sendai, pseudorabies, rubella, and Rous and Esh sarcoma (Wallbank, Matter & Klinikowski, 1966). All evidence thus far gathered with these viruses suggests that the drug inhibits only at an early stage of infection (Cochran et al. 1965; Hoffmann et al. 1965; Kato & Eggers, 1969; Maassab & Cochran, 1964).
* Present address: Dept. of Biology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 12181.
† Present address: New York State Institute for Basic Research in Mental Retardation, Staten Island, N.Y. 10314.
‡ Present address: Dept. of Biology, Amherst College, Amherst, Massachusetts, 01002.