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| The goal of our pre-clinical anti-respiratory drug development program is the cost effective and expeditious evaluation of the efficacy, toxicity, range and mechanism of action of your compound. Our laboratory is working to develop new models and new assays which will expedite research in the field of anti-virus research. |
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Anti-Respiratory Virus Evaluation
Primary antiviral screening
We have a moderate throughput cell-based CPE reduction assay to identify inhibitors of a variety of respiratory viruses. This is a microtiter assay which measures the ability of selected compounds to inhibit virus induced cell killing. In parallel with the primary screen the toxicity of the compounds to the target cells is evaluated by use of tetrazolium dye XTT.
We have the following virus strains from representative respiratory virus groups for the primary screen: |
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| Virus group |
Cell-line |
Assay length |
| Influenza A and B(Subtypes-H1N1, H3N2 and influenza B) |
MDCK |
4 days |
| Human Parainfluenza(type 3) |
Hep-2 |
6 days |
| Respiratory Syncytial Virus(long) |
Vero |
6 days |
| Human Rhinovirus(type 1A,1B,14,and 26 ) |
MRC-5 |
6 days |
| Measles(Edmonson) |
Hela |
6 days |
| Adenovirus(type 2) |
Hela |
6 days |
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Anti-Herpes Virus Evaluation
The goal of our preclinical anti-herpesvirus drug development program is the expeditious evaluation of the efficacy, toxicity, range and mechanism of action of your compound. Our laboratory currently offers primary screening assays to identify inhibitors of HSV-1 and HSV-2, EBV, CMV, and HHV-8. Development of screening assays for the remaining human herpesviruses – VZV, HHV-6, and HHV-7 – is currently in progress. In addition, we have the ability to perform a wide variety of secondary assays to determine the range and mechanism of action of your compound. |
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Anti-HSV Evaluations
Primary antiviral screening
An established, high capacity anti-HSV drug screening program is available for the primary analysis of compounds in a microtiter assay which measures the ability of selected compound to inhibit HSV-induced cell killing as well as the toxicity of the test compounds to host cells. Quantitation is performed spectrophotometrically using the tetrazolium dye XTT which is converted to a soluble, colored formazan product by mitochondrial enzymes present in the metabolically active cells at five days post-infection. The basic assay involves infection of Vero cells with virus in the presence of the test compound. Data are analyzed using a statistical software program and efficacy and toxicity endpoints are determined, along with selectivity indices. |
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Anti-EBV Evaluations
Primary antiviral screening
We have recently developed a moderate throughput PCR-based assay to identify inhibitors of EBV. This assay is performed with TPA-induced P3HR1 cells and utilizes TaqMan PCR methodology as the method of endpoint detection. In parallel with the primary screen the toxicity of the compounds to the target cells is evaluated by use of tetrazolium dye XTT.
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Anti-CMV Evaluations
Primary antiviral screening
We have recently developed a moderate throughput cell-based ELISA to identify inhibitors of CMV. This assay is routinely performed by infection of MRC-5 cells with the AD169 strain of CMV. The relative quantity of pp65 antigen present in compound-treated cultures is determined by ELISA following a four day incubation period. The length of this assay and the compound throughput are significantly reduced in comparison with the traditional plaque assay. In parallel with the primary screen the toxicity of the compounds to the target cells is evaluated by use of tetrazolium dye XTT.
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Anti-HHV8 Evaluations
Primary antiviral screening
Our laboratory has recently a developed a moderate throughput PCR-based assay to identify inhibitors of HHV-8. This assay is performed with TPA-induced BCBL-1 cells and utilizes TaqMan PCR methodology as the method of endpoint detection. In parallel with the primary screen the toxicity of the compounds to the target cells is evaluated by use of tetrazolium dye XTT.
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Anti-Enteric Virus Evaluation
Primary antiviral screening
We have a moderate throughput cell-based CPE reduction assay to identify inhibitors of variety of enteric viruses. This is a microtiter assay which measures the ability of selected compounds to inhibit virus induced cell killing as well as toxicity of the test compounds to host cells. In parallel with the primary screen the toxicity of the compounds to the target cells is evaluated by use of tetrazolium dye XTT.
We have a number of viral strains for many of the enteric virus groups for the primary screen:
Enteric viruses: |
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| Virus group |
Cell-line |
Assay length |
| Enteroviruses(J670/71) |
MRC-5 |
6 days |
| Echoviruses(HA-201468) |
MRC-5 |
6 days |
| Coxsackie virus A and B(A21,A24, A7, B1, B3, and B4) |
MRC-5/Vero |
6 days |
| Polio virus(chat) |
Vero |
6 days |
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