INHIBITORY EFFECT OF POLYIONIC COMPOUNDS ON THE ADSORPTION OF HERPES-SIMPLEX VIRUS TYPE-1 (KOS)

The polyionic compounds, including dextran sulphates and poly-L-lysine s, were evaluated for their inhibitory effect on the cytopathic effect of herpes simplex virus (HSV-1, KOS) in vitro. The anti-HSV activitie s of poly-L-lysines were found to increase with increasing molecular w eight of the polymers. Both dextran sulphates and poly-L-lysines were found to block adsorption of HSV-1 to Vero cells. The inhibitory effec t of adsorption of [H-3] labelled virus was related to the molecular w eight of the polymers. Polymers of higher molecular eight were found t o be more effective than the lower molecular weight samples in inhibit ing virus adsorption, The results from the microelectrophoresis measur ements demonstrated that poly-L-lysines adsorb and confer positive cha rges on the Vero cells. Dextran sulphates, on the other hand, may adso rb onto the HSV-1 membrane surfaces instead of binding onto the cell m embranes and interfere with adsorption of virions to the cells. The in hibitory effects of these polymers on viral cytopathogenic effect were probably attributable to the electrostatic and steric hindrance effec ts exerted by the polymers as reflected in the difference in zeta pote ntial of cellular membrane treated with these compounds.