Complexes of zinc with picolinic and aspartic acids inactivate free varicella-zoster virions

Abstract

Zn(II) picolinate and aspartate, Zn(pic)2 and Zn(asp)2, have been shown to inhibit key steps of the replication of HSV-1. In the present study we describe the effect of Zn(pic)2 and Zn(asp)2 on the replication of VZV and on the infectivity of free virions. The experiments are done using BHK-21 cells, a clinical isolate of VZV and Zn-complexes in concentration of 10 μM. When Zn-complexes are present during the whole period of infection, the yield of infectious virus progeny decreases up to 98%. The infectivity of VZV is completely restored after the removal of zinc. The virucidal effect is manifested at the 2nd h of contact, when 90% of the virions are inactivated. The results show that both Zn(pic)2 and Zn(asp)2 specifically inactivate free VZV virions with no effect on viral replication.