Effect of polyions on the infectivity of SA-11 rotavirus in LCC-MK2 cells.

We investigated the effect of different polyions on the early phases of SA-11 rotavirus infection in susceptible LLC-MK2 cells in order to clarify the influence of electrostatic interactions in rotavirus binding to cell membranes and to select antiviral compounds able to prevent viral attachment. When added during the viral attachment step, polymers having positive charge (protamine, protamine sulphate, DEAE-dextran, histone and poly-L-lysine hydrobromide) enhanced virus infection whereas those having negative charge (mucin, heparin, heparan sulphate, alpha-1-acid glycoprotein and dextran sulphate) inhibited the viral replication. The effect of polyanions on SA-11 rotavirus and on cell membrane receptors has also been examined. Results obtained indicated that while mucin and alpha-1-acid glycoprotein act directly on virus particles, the target of heparin, heparan sulphate and dextran sulphate is the host cell membrane.