Inhibition of herpes simplex virus strains isolated from herpetic keratitis by polyinosinic acid-polycytidylic acid.
Fifty strains of herpes simplex virus, isolated from patients with herpetic keratitis, were examined in vitro for susceptibility to polyinosinic acid-polycytidylic acid [poly(I:C)] in the presence of a constant concentration of diethylaminoethyl-dextran. The minimal inhibitory concentration of poly(I:C) for 44 of these strains ranged from 0.0001 to 0.1 mug/ml; for the remaining six strains, the minimal inhibitory concentration stood at 1 to 2 mug/ml. Fifteen isolates from primary infections were more susceptible to poly(I:C) than 35 isolates from recurrent infections. Isolates acquired at different points of a given clinical episode showed similar susceptibilities to poly(I:C). In two patients, isolates from consecutive recurrences of infection exhibited reduced susceptibilities. The implications of the above observations for the therapeutic use of poly(I:C) are discussed.
D003637:DEAE-Dextran / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007635:Keratitis, Dendritic / Q000382:microbiology*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011070:Poly I-C / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012008:Recurrence; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification
D003637:DEAE-Dextran; D011070:Poly I-C