α-Aminosulfonic Acids and Viral Propagation. ∗

Abstract

Summary

Three α-aminosulfonic acids (α-aminophenylmethanesulfonic acid, α-amino-β-phenylethanesulfonic acid, and α-amino-p-methoxyphenylmethanesulfonic acid) were prepared and tested as inhibitors of the propagation of influenza virus. Each was found to cause marked inhibition of viral synthesis in tissue culture at a concentration of 5 × 10^-4 molar. In the embryonate egg 8 mg of each compound completely inhibited the multiplication of influenza virus, although the 50% lethal dose for eggs of α-amino-p-methoxyphenylmethanesulfonic acid was approximately 30 mg per egg. Under special conditions, α-amino-β-phenylethanesulfonie acid afforded some protection to mice which were infected with the WS strain of Type A influenza virus. These sulfonic acids are not virucidal, and they do not affect the respiration of tissues cultured in the Warburg flask and are not reversed by tyrosine not phenylalanine to which they are structurally related. Ammonium ions, bisulfite ions, and p-methoxybenzaldehyde did not affect viral propagation. A possible mode of action of these amino acid analogs is discussed.