Photodynamic inhibition of infection caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 in the cultured cells, by using 5-aminolevulinic acid-induced porphyrins

On simulating infection caused by different herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) variants responsive and unresponsive to the drugs acyclovir and phosphonoacetic acid in the cultured Vero and C6 cells has revealed the higher ability of target cells to accumulate 5-aminolevulenic acid (ALA)-induced endogenous porphyrins, which determines the selectivity of their photo damages. Optimal conditions have been defined for all the studied HSV-1 variants to show a virus-inhibiting effect upon photodynamic exposure of infected and ALA-treated cell cultures.