1. Topical application of polyethylenimine as a candidate for novel prophylactic therapeutics against genital herpes caused by herpes simplex virus
- Author
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Takashi Kai, Kyoko Hayashi, Hiroki Onoue, Toshimitsu Hayashi, Penmetcha K. R. Kumar, Jung-Bum Lee, Kohei Sasaki, Yoshie Maitani, and Subash C. B. Gopinath
- Subjects
medicine.medical_specialty ,viruses ,Administration, Topical ,Herpesvirus 2, Human ,Disease ,Herpesvirus 1, Human ,Microbial Sensitivity Tests ,Biology ,medicine.disease_cause ,Virus ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Mice ,Medical microbiology ,In vivo ,Virology ,medicine ,Animals ,Polyethyleneimine ,Polyethylenimine ,Mice, Inbred BALB C ,Herpes Genitalis ,Microbial Viability ,General Medicine ,Virus Internalization ,In vitro ,Disease Models, Animal ,Herpes simplex virus ,Treatment Outcome ,chemistry ,Anti-Infective Agents, Local ,Female ,Anti-Infective Agents - Abstract
Herpes simplex virus types 1 (HSV-1) and 2 (HSV-2) cause genital herpes, which can enhance the acquisition of human immunodeficiency virus. The development of anti-HSV agents with novel mechanisms of action is urgently required in the topical therapy of genital herpes. In this study, the in vitro and in vivo anti-HSV effects of Epomin SP-012(®), a highly cationic polyethylenimine, were evaluated. When the in vitro antiviral effects of SP-012 were assessed, this compound showed potent activity against HSV-1 and HSV-2. It inhibited the attachment of HSV-2 to host cells and cell-to-cell spread of infection in a concentration-dependent manner and exerted a virucidal effect. No SP-012-resistant HSV-2 was found when the virus was successively passaged in the presence of SP-012. In a mouse genital herpes model, topically administered SP-012 inhibited the progression of the disease caused by HSV infection. These data illustrate that SP-012 may be a novel class of HSV inhibitor that would be acceptable for long-term topical application.
- Published
- 2013