About the Authors

María B. Cassera

Current address: Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, United State of America

Affiliation Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, Bronx, New York, United State of America

Keith Z. Hazleton

Affiliation Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, Bronx, New York, United State of America

Emilio F. Merino

Current address: Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, United State of America

Affiliation Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, Bronx, New York, United State of America

Nicanor Obaldia III

Affiliation Tropical Medicine Research, Malaria Drug and Vaccine Evaluation Center, Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama City, Panama

Meng-Chiao Ho

Affiliation Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, Bronx, New York, United State of America

Andrew S. Murkin

Affiliations Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, Bronx, New York, United State of America, Department of Chemistry, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, United State of America

Richard DePinto

Affiliation Waters Corporation, Parsippany, New Jersey, United State of America

Jemy A. Gutierrez

Affiliation Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, Bronx, New York, United State of America

Steven C. Almo

Affiliation Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, Bronx, New York, United State of America

Gary B. Evans

Affiliation Carbohydrate Chemistry Group, Industrial Research Ltd., Lower Hutt, New Zealand

Yarlagadda S. Babu

Affiliation Department of Biological Sciences, BioCryst Pharmaceuticals Inc., Birmingham, Alabama, United State of America

Vern L. Schramm

vern.schramm@einstein.yu.edu

Affiliation Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, Bronx, New York, United State of America

Competing Interests

The authors have the following competing interest: The chemical synthesis and uses of DADMe-Immucillin-G (BCX4945) are disclosed in U.S. Patent 7,211,653, “Inhibitors of nucleoside metabolism”, R. H. Furneaux, P. C. Tyler, and V. L. Schramm, granted May 1, 2007. This patent is owned by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Industrial Research Ltd. BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc., has licensed this patent. BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. provided the BCX4945 used in the Aotus animal studies. BCX4945 is a preclinical research compound and is not a marketed product. Richard DePinto is employed by the Waters Corporation, Gary Evans is employed by Industrial Research Ltd. and Yarlagadda S. Babu is employed by BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. The participation of these individuals does not alter the authors' adherence to all PLoS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.

Author Contributions

Performed the experiments: MBC KZH NO M-CH EFM RD JAG. Analyzed the data: SCA VLS. Wrote the paper: MBC VLS. Designed and accomplished the original synthesis of BCX4945: GBE. Provided BCX4945 for Aotus experiments: YSB. Synthesized deuterium-labeled internal standards: ASM. Planned experiments: MBC NO VLS.