[Influence of polyelectrolytes on measles virus infectivity].

Aim: Mechanism of virus inhibiting action against measles virus of polyelectrolytes (PE) polystyrolsulfonate (PSS) of various polymerization degree and 60 kDa molecular weight polyallylamine (PAA) was studied.

Materials And Methods: Measles virus Leningrad-16 strain was used for the study. Virus infectious titer reduction kinetics after interaction with PSS with the degree of polymerization of 8 (PSS 8), 31, 77, 170, 360, 430 and PAA were determined by titration method with cytopathogenic effect detection in Vero continuous cell line. Circular dichroism and fluorescence spectra of viral proteins were obtained by using Zenith 200st spectrophotometer (Russian Federation) and Jasco J-810 dichrograph (Japan).

Results: A significant decrease of measles virus infectious titers after interaction with PSS with the degree of polymerization of 8 and PAA in concentration of 30 mM was detected. Analysis of circular dichroism spectra and protein fluorescence allowed to determine the mechanism of interaction of the indicated PE with measles virus surface proteins. The secondary structure of viral proteins is damaged by hydrophobic polar frame of these PE, polyanion PSS 8 also interacts with positive charges of protein groups that leads to the formation of loops and tails that disrupt alpha-spirals.

Conclusion: The studied PE could be considered as potential antiviral preparations, and methods of circular dichroism and protein fluorescence could be used to detect damage of viral protein secondary structure by agents of different kinds.