Specific binding of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) strain HSZP to host cell surface can provoke interference with early shutoff of host protein synthesis induced by HSV-1 strain KOS.

The HSZP strain of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is defective with respect to the early shutoff of host protein synthesis but is effective at interfering with the early shutoff function of the HSV-1 KOS strain, even when heat-inactivated or neutralized by antibody. The interference was not due to exclusion of strain KOS by HSZP at the level of adsorption or penetration. The component responsible for the interference is an integral part of HSZP virions. Strain HSZP inactivated with zinc ions failed to interfere with the early shutoff function of the superinfecting strain KOS. The same effect was also found with strain HSZP purified from cells treated with 2-deoxy-D-glucose. This finding supports the idea that a specific interaction between HSZP virions and the cell surface can be responsible for the interference phenomenon.