Effect of oxidized spermine and other aldehydes on the infectivity of vaccinia virus.

The antiviral activity of oxidized spermine was compared with that of other aldehydes. Suspensions of vaccinia virus were incubated at 37 C with various concentrations of the aldehydes, and the infectivity of the viruses was determined by the plaque assay. Oxidized spermine at a concentration of 0.82 mM completely inactivated a suspension of vaccinia virus (1.4 x 10(8) plaque-forming units) after incubation at 37 C for 10 hr. Glutaraldehyde and formaldehyde were less active when compared on a molar basis, but acrolein resembled oxidized spermine in its antiviral activity. Because acrolein is produced from oxidized spermine at only 20 to 30% yield, it is unlikely that the biological activity of the latter is due to acrolein formed during the spontaneous degradation of oxidized spermine.