A series of eleven lectins were investigated for their inhibiting activity towards herpes simplex type 1, rabies and rubella viruses. Herpes simplex virus adsorption was inhibited by Limulus polyphemus (LPA), Canavalia ensiformis (ConA) and wheat germ (WGA) agglutinins, whereas Bauhinia purpurea (BPA) and soybean agglutinins were more effective if present during viral replication; rabies virus attachment to susceptible cells was prevented by LPA and Narcissus pseudonarcissus (NPA) agglutinin whereas WGA and BPA were inhibitory at a later step; rubella virus multiplication was affected only after the attachment step by NPA, ConA and WGA.