ABSTRACT

The antiviral potential of anionic compounds has been known for a long period of time. At first glance, it would seem that the interaction of a negatively charged molecule, which presumably interacts with positively charged sites, would be non-selective. In fact, this is quite the contrary. Generally, when a virus enters a cell to begin its journey of destruction, viral antigens are displayed on the infected cell’s surface. If the im m une system recognizes these antigens as foreign, it subsequently organizes the cellular and hum oral arms of the imm une system to m ount an attack on the invader. In doing so, the virally infected cell is specifically targeted where upon the viral antigens are neutralized by antibodies while cytotoxic T-cells destroy the cell harboring the virus. Often, viruses display antigens that are similar to the host cell antigens and this phenom ena does not invoke a response from the imm une system. Hence, the virus can carry on its mission of infection without interference from the immune system. O n the other hand, as is the case in patients infected with acquired im m une deficiency syndrome (AIDS), the virus may stimulate an imm une response, but this challenge is unable to neutralize or eradicate the virus. Inspite of this, it is clear that there are changes and differences in the m em brane of a virally infected cell as com pared to the non-infected cell.