INHIBITION OF HERPES-SIMPLEX VIRUS-INFECTION BY NEGATIVELY CHARGED AND NEUTRAL CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS

Different natural and semisynthetic polysaccharides were evaluated for their inhibitory effect on in vitro replication of herpes simplex vir us (HSV) types 1 and 2. Some neutral and negatively charged carbohydra tes were able to inhibit viral infection by interfering mainly with th e adsorption process showing a dose-dependent relationship, Their effe ct was shown within the concentration range of 200-0.8 mu g/ml, and th e inhibiting compounds were in order of action: dextran sulfate = scle roglucan = lambda carrageenan > glyloid sulfate 4324 > locust bean gum towards HSV-1 and dextran sulfate = glyloid sulfate 4324 = lambda car rageenan > scleroglucan > glycogen sulfate 4435 towards HSV-2. The dat a obtained indicate that the antiviral activity of polysaccharides was not only related to their electric charge. Other characteristics of t he molecules such as the polymeric backbone, the carbohydrate moieties and the degree of polymerization could play a role in influencing the ir antiviral properties.