Studies with a hydrophobic, spin-labeled virucidal agent

Partitioning and localization of spin-labeled amantadine in lipid bilayers: an EPR study

EPR was used to study the distribution of the spin-labeled amantadine (AA-SL) between the bulk hydrophobic-hydrocarbon solvent, light paraffin oil, and water and between hydrophobic-hydrocarbon chain region of lipid membranes and water. The AA-SL molecules were soluble in both hydrophobic and polar regions of investigated systems. It was shown that the partition coefficient of AA-SL between the hydrocarbon region of the L-alpha-dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine fluid-phase membrane and water is much higher than between bulk hydrocarbon solvent and water. Furthermore, the partitioning of AA-SL into membranes of multilamellar liposomes made of L-alpha-dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine, L-alpha-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine, and L-alpha-distearoylphosphatidylcholine was studied as a function of temperature, indicating no abrupt change at the main phase transition of these membranes. It is also clear from our data that AA-SL can penetrate into the gel-phase membrane practically with the same partitioning as into the fluid-phase membrane. Furthermore, it was shown that at least part of the AA-SL molecule is deeply buried in the hydrocarbon chain region of the membrane.

Topical butylated hydroxytoluene treatment of genital herpes simplex virus infections of guinea pigs

The effect of topical treatment with butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) was evaluated in primary and recurrent genital herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection of guinea pigs. In the first experiment, treatment with placebo, 5%, 10%, or 15% BHT was initiated 48 h after viral inoculation and continued 4 times daily for 15 days. During primary infection no differences in maximum lesion severity or titers of virus in lesions were observed, however, lesion duration was reduced in BHT-treated animals resulting in a significantly smaller lesion score-day area under the curve. In a second experiment using U.S.P. mineral oil as an additional placebo, BHT placebo and 15% BHT in a double blind trial, similar results were obtained. Treatment of the recurrent infection in either experiment failed to alter the number of recurrent episodes or days with lesions.

Mechanism of virucidal activity of retinoids: protein removal from bacteriophage phi 6 envelope

The mechanism of the potent virucidal activity of retinol (vitamin A) and retinal (vitamin A aldehyde) was investigated for the interaction of these compounds with a model system enveloped virus, bacteriophage phi 6. The retinoids bind to and inactivate phi 6 without causing large-scale disruption of the virion. Inactivated virions have completely lost the ability to adsorb to host bacteria due to the loss of a viral envelope protein necessary for adsorption.