Objective: To investigate the antiviral effect of polymer of styrenesulfonic acid and maleic acid, (4-styrenesulfonic acid-co-maleic acid) (PSM) against herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). Methods: A Vero-ICP10 cell line containing virus-controlled Luciferase as indicator was established for analyzing the effect of different concentrations of PSM on HSV-2 infection. An In cell western assay was also used for detecting intracellular viral protein expression. PSM inhibitory activity was further evaluated in a HSV-2 vaginal challenge murine model. Results: The results of in vitro analyses showed that PSM could protect cell from HSV-2 infection, and the murine model showed that 5% PSM protected 95% of the animals from HSV-2 infection ( P < 0.001). Conclusion: PSM is a potential agent for the prevention of HSV-2 infection through sexual route. |