Antiviral capsid-binding compounds can inhibit the adsorption of minor receptor rhinoviruses.

The effect of four structurally diverse capsid-binding compounds on the adsorption of seven human rhinoviruses (HRV), representative for both receptor and antiviral groupings was studied using infective center assays. Antiviral compounds studied included a pyridazinamine (R 61837), an isoxazole (WIN 51711), a flavan (4',6-dichloroflavan) and a chalcone (Ro-09410). Minor receptor viruses studied were HRV 1A, HRV 2 and HRV 29 (antiviral group B), major receptor viruses were HRV 9, HRV 39 and HRV 14, HRV 35 (antiviral group B and A, respectively). The adsorption of four out of the seven serotypes was inhibited by some antiviral compounds, but not by others, indicating that the conformational alterations induced by antiviral compounds can vary considerably within a given serotype, depending on the chemical nature of the antiviral compound used. A correlation between inhibition of adsorption and receptor grouping or antiviral grouping could not be found.