[Perspectives in AIDS chemotherapy]

The author gives a survey of groups of substances which have a marked and selective effect on HI thus serving as potential chemotherapeutical means against AIDS. They can be divided into three groups: 1. anionic substances, 2. 2, 3-dideoxynucleoside analogues and 3. sulphate polysaccharides. The mechanism of the effect of the substances of the 2nd group probably inhibits reverse HIV transcriptase. The substances of the 3rd group are to prevent adsorption of virus particles by the cells. The substances of the 1st group inhibit HIV transcriptase but also interfere with the adsorption process of the virus particles, or with other stages and phases of the HIV replication cycle. The crystallized substances of these groups should be further studied as potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of AIDS and other retrovirus infections (PMEA, D4T, dextran-sulphate, pentosan, polysulphate and others). The survey also includes information on the so-called anti-sense RNA.status: publishe