A single nucleoside viral polymerase inhibitor against norovirus, rotavirus, and sapovirus-induced diarrhea

A safe and highly efficient antiviral is needed for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of viral diarrhea. We here demonstrate the in vitro antiviral activity of four 2′-C-methyl nucleoside analogues against noro-, rota-, and sapoviruses. The most potent nucleoside analogue, 7-deaza-2′-C-methyladenosine, inhibits replication of these viruses with a 50% effective concentration < 5 µM. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that the 2′-C-methyl nucleoside analogues act by inhibiting transcription of the rotavirus genome. This provides the first evidence that a single viral-diarrhea-targeted treatment can be developed through a viral-polymerase-targeting small molecule.