Emetine is an early inhibitor of HCMV replication.

A) Emetine does not inhibit HCMV entry. Cells were treated with emetine (75 nM), GCV (10 μM), and CpG 2006 (10 μM) 24 h prior to infection. Cells were infected with HCMV and treated with compounds for 90 min. Immunofluorescence staining was performed with mouse monoclonal anti-pp65 antibody. The fluorescence of rhodamine anti-mouse IgG and DAPI was visualized and merged using a Nikon Eclipse E-800 fluorescence microscope. B) Emetine has an early activity against HCMV. Cells were infected with HCMV Towne, and compounds were added at 0, 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 hpi (Add on). Culture supernatants (10%) were collected at 72 hpi for a plaque assay after 14 days. C) Cells were infected with HCMV Towne and treated with compounds immediately after virus adsorption. Compounds were removed at 0, 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 hpi (Removal). Culture supernatants were collected at 72 hpi for titration by plaque assay. Data represent mean ± SE of triplicate determinations from a representative of two independent experiments.