Synergistic effects of antiviral agents and humoral antibodies in experimental Herpesvirus hominis encephalitis.

Experimental Herpesvirus hominis encephalitis in 3-week-old Swiss mice was utilized to evaluate the antiviral effects of adenine arabinoside (ara-A), phosphonacetic acid (PAA), and humoral antibodies to H. hominis (HIG). Administration of ara-A, PAA, or HIG during the early phase of infection reduced the mortality rate of H. hominis encephalitis in mice. Combined administration of humoral antibodies with an antiviral agent (ara-A or PAA) resulted in an enhanced protection, accompanied by a decreased virus concentration in the brain tissues and a diminished tissue injury. The generality of this enhancing effect of humoral antibodies on the action of antiviral agents and its possible use in therapy of viral infections warrant further investigation.