SODIUM DEOXYCHOLATE EXERTS A DIRECT DESTRUCTIVE EFFECT ON HIV AND INFLUENZA-VIRUSES IN-VITRO AND INHIBITS RETROVIRUS-INDUCED PATHOLOGY IN AN ANIMAL-MODEL

The bile salt sodium deoxycholate had a virucidal effect on influenza, Rauscher leukaemia and HIV-1 viruses, reducing virus infectivity by a maximum of 6 logs TCID50 ml(-1) after 1 h incubation at 37 degrees C with 50 mu g ml(-1) of the compound. Electron microscopy demonstrated directly that sodium deoxycholate and other bile salts perturbed influ enza virus structure causing partial or complete disruption of the vir ion lipid membrane, thus allowing entry of phosphotungstate dye to the virion interior. Parenteral administration of sodium deoxycholate (14 mg kg(-1)) to Balb/C mice abrogated pathology caused by Rauscher leuka emia virus replicating in the spleen and influenza virus replicating i n the lung. Bile salts may also have clinical potential as topical vir ucidal agents at the point of entry of enveloped viruses and particula rly against HIV.