A broad-spectrum microbicide with virucidal activity against sexually transmitted viruses

Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), an alkyl sulfate surfactant derived from an o rganic alcohol, possesses surfactant properties but also denatures and unfo lds both monomeric and subunit proteins. In preliminary experiments, we dem onstrated that SDS is a potent inactivator of herpes simplex virus type 2 a nd human immunodeficiency virus type 1 at concentrations comparable to thos e used for the surfactant nonoxynol-9. We hypothesized that SDS might be ca pable of denaturing the capsid proteins of nonenveloped viruses, In this re port, we demonstrate inactivation of rabbit, bovine, and human papillomavir uses after brief treatment with dilute solutions of SDS. Effective concentr ations were nontoxic to rabbit skin and to split-thickness grafts of human foreskin epithelium. This is the first report of a microbicidal surfactant that will inactivate papillomaviruses. me propose that SDS is now a candida te microbicide for formulation and testing with humans.