Due to the worldwide epidemic of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), the past ten years have witnessed a flurry of activity in the chemotherapy of viral diseases. Unprecedented scientific efforts have been made by scientists and clinicians to combat infections of human immunodeficiency virus (HIY), the causative agent. Looking back over the past ten years, we have made remarkable progress toward the treatment of the viral disease: isolation of HIV only two years after the identification of the disease, plus major strides in the areas of the molecular biology and virology of the retrovirus, etc. More remarkably, the discovery of the chemotherapeutic agent AZT (Retrovir) was made within two years after the isolation and identification of the virus, followed by unprecedented drug development efforts to culminate in the FDA approval of AZT in twenty-three months, which was a record-breaking time for approval of any drug for a major disease. The last six to seven years have particularly been an exciting and productive period for nucleoside chemists. Since the activity of AZI' was established in 1985, nucleoside chemists have had golden opportunities to discover additional anti-HIV nucleosipes, which are hoped to be less toxic and more effective than AZT, and the opportunity continues. As we all are aware, AZT possesses extremely potent anti-HIY activity, and no other nucleoside or non nucleoside has surpassed the potency of AZT in vitro.

This publication contains the Review Lectures given at a joint NATO Advanced Study Institute and a FEB S Advanced Study Course, held at Sogesta (Nr. Urbino), Italy from the 7th - 18th May 1979. The Course entitled "Nucleoside Analogues : Chemistry, Biology and Medical Applications" was held for several reasons. In the past few years, many useful and potentially-useful nucleoside analogues have either reached the stage of clinical use or are undergoing clinical trials. Many more compounds have been synthesised by the organic chemist and little more has been done with them other than possibly a few perfunctory biological tests. This is often due to either a lack of interest or an inadequate knowledge of the testing proced ures available or a lack of communication between the chemist, biochemist, pharmacologist and the clinician such that few compounds receive the testing and evaluation which they deserve. The aim of this meeting was to gather together many of the experts in the different scientific disciplines which are involved in the design, synthesis, testing and clinical use of nucleoside analogues, primarily as anti-viral and anti-cancer agents, and to discuss in depth the fundamental principles of each discipline so that participants could understand each other's problems and be more aware of the information required and that which can be obtained.

The book covers up-to-date information on nucleosides and antiviral chemotherapy contributed by the world experts in the field of nucleoside. This book is the result of a meeting honoring Dr. Jack J. Fox, who was one of the pioneers in nucleoside chemistry and chemotherapy. This book consists of 15 excellent chapters in the area, which include topics from recent synthetic methodologies, nucleoside kinase implicated in chemotherapy and drug design, excellent reviews on antiviral agents, nucleoside metabolism/mode of action in parasites, new compounds under clinical and pre-clinical trials, IMPDH inhibitors to review on nucleoside prodrugs.

• Up-to-date review on the chemistry and biology of nucleosides • Modern synthetic methodology • Comprehensive coverage of antiviral nucleosidesThis book summarizes the recent advances in nucleosides chemistry and chemotherapy over the past 10-15 years. It covers recently discovered nucleoside antiviral agents, their therapeutic aspects and biochemistry, and also extensive reviews on their chiral synthesis.

In the second project, the synthesis of three series of bis-aminochloropyrimidine derivatives with different types of linkers as potential DNA intercalators is described. The first series are aminochloropyrimidines bridged by polymethylene chain linkers with various lengths. The second series are bridged by polyether linkers to lower the lipophilicity. The third series are bridged by linkers containing benzene rings to limit the flexibility. The spectral data and other physical properties of the new compounds are discussed. The preliminary screening results indicate that many new synthesized bis-intercalators are biologically active. The relationship between bioactivity and structure is discussed as well.

Used extensively in cellular and molecular biology research and cytogenetic applications, nucleotide analogs are currently available for the treatment of various diseases. Nucleoside Triphosphate and Their Analogs: Chemistry, Biotechnology, and Biological Applications features the contributions of 18 scientists from both academia and industry in the first complete source dedicated entirely to nucleoside triphosphate (NTP). The text provides collective information on the chemical, physiochemical, and biological properties of both natural and modified NTP alongside their application in life sciences. This book examines the structural components of NTPs' diverse biological properties and therapeutic consequences, including cytotoxic compounds, antiviral agents, and immunosuppressive molecules. The text describes synthetic methods used for all types of nucleotides and reviews families of enzymes that depend on nucleotides for assembling DNA and RNA molecules. This book also emphasizes the key role NTP plays in the global tracking of conformational changes in nucleic acids and nucleic acid complexes and the investigation of cellular processes and genetic material. The author details the pharmaceutical and diagnostic applications of NTP modification and how fluorescent labeled nucleotide analogs provide sensitive probes for studying the structure, dynamics, and interactions of nucleic acids. Nucleoside Triphosphate and Their Analogs: Chemistry, Biotechnology, and Biological Applications discusses the potential of current applications and future research into context with an in-depth analysis of the role anticancer and antiviral nucleoside analogs play in medical treatments, including antiretroviral therapy regimens (for the treatment of HIV), anti-rejection therapy for organ transplants, hematological malignancy therapy, and the treatment of nonmalignant disorders, solid tumors, immunologic diseases, and multiple sclerosis.