The infectivity of a population of enveloped viruses which comprise a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored protein in their membrane can be reduc ed by employing certain toxins such as aerolysin, alpha toxin of Clostridium septicum, or enterolobin. Toxins which bind to glycosylphosphatidylinositol- anchored proteins inactivate such viruses. The toxins can be used to produce attenuated viral vaccines, to purge blood products, cells, or tissues of suc h viruses, and to detect viruses in samples.
CHANNEL FORMING TOXINS AS ANTIVIRAL AGENTS