Effect of Genetically Determined Host Factors on the Efficacy of Vidarabine, Acyclovir and 5-Trifluorothymidine in Herpes simplex Virus Type 1 Infection

The susceptibility of Herpes simplex virus (HSV) to acyclovir (ACV), 5-trifluorothymidine (TFT) and vidarabine (Ara-A) in HSV-infected embryo fibroblasts from BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice as well as Vero cells were measured. Ara-A and TFT (at its highest concentration) were more effective in Vero cells and BALB/c mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEF) than in C57BL/ 6 MEF. In contrast, ACV was more effective in C57BL/6 MEF than BALB/c MEF and Vero cells. These data suggest that genetically determined differences in the ability of host cells to support the replication of HSV influence the activity of antiviral drugs.