VAGINAL FORMULATIONS OF CARRAGEENAN PROTECT MICE FROM HERPES-SIMPLEX VIRUS-INFECTION

The observations from the present study indicate that vaginal formulat ions of the sulfated polysaccharide carrageenan are highly effective i n protecting mice from herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection, Test formulations were placed in the vaginas of progestin-treated mice prior to inoculation with HSV-2, Infection was determined by the pres ence of inflammation in the genital region and death, At a dose of vir us that infected half of the control animals, 1% solutions of either l ambda, kappa, or iota carrageenan prevented infection of almost all of the animals, Concentrations as low as 0.05% protected a large majorit y of the mice. At a dose of virus that infected all of the control mic e, 1% solutions of carrageenans protected 85% of the inoculated mice, Other sulfated polysaccharides were less effective or showed no effica cy in preventing HSV-2 infection, These findings suggest that a vagina l formulation of carrageenan may be effective in blocking sexual trans mission of HSV-2 in women.