Destabilization of herpes simplex virus type 1 virions by local anesthetics, alkaline pH, and calcium depletion.

The infectivity of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) was found to be markedly reduced by treating virions with the tertiary amine local anesthetics lidocaine, dibucaine and tetracaine. These treatments induced a characteristic shift in the buoyant density of the HSV-1 particles from a "light" to a "heavy" population. HSV-1 virions were unstable at alkaline pH, and alkali treatment caused the same shift in buoyant density. Ca2+ stabilized the "light" population. These results suggest that the physicochemical status of the HSV-1 envelope which is sensitive to the treatments described above plays an important role for the integrity of the virion.