Evidence for herpes simplex virus type-selective receptors on cellular plasma membranes.

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) interfered with the adsorption of subsequently added homotypic but no heterotypic HSV, suggesting that the cellular receptors involved were type-selective. Both infective and u.v.-irradiated virus could block the attachment of virions to cellular surface receptors. The adsorption rate was studied by assaying non-adsorbed infective virus remaining in the fluid medium and cell-associated 3H-thymidine labelled HSV, and HSV mutants assayed in presence of phosphonoformic acid (PFA). The adsorption profiles indicated that GMK AH-1, Vero and SIRC cells all exhibited more HSV type 1-than type 2-selective receptors while HeLa S3 cells displayed more receptors with affinity for type 2 than for type 1. On HEp-2 and human embryonic lung cells HSV type 1- and type 2-selective receptors were about equally represented.