Development of a homogeneous screening assay for automated detection of antiviral agents active against severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus

• Published in: Journal of virological methods Vol. 129; no. 1; pp. 56 - 63
• Main Authors: Ivens, Tania, Eynde, Christel Van den, Acker, Koen Van, Nijs, Erik, Dams, Géry, Bettens, Eva, Ohagen, Asa, Pauwels, Rudi, Hertogs, Kurt
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Elsevier B.V 01.10.2005; Amsterdam Elsevier; New York, NY
• Subjects: Antiviral activity; Antiviral Agents - analysis; Antiviral Agents - chemistry; Antiviral Agents - metabolism; Antiviral Agents - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Line; Coronavirus; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; EGFP expression; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Green Fluorescent Proteins; High-throughput screening; Microbiology; SARS coronavirus; SARS Virus - drug effects; SARS Virus - physiology; SARS-CoV; Techniques used in virology; Transmissible gastroenteritis virus; Virology; Virus Replication - drug effects; High-throughput screening; EGFP expression; SARS-CoV; Antiviral activity; High throughput screening; SARS-CoV: High-throughput screening; Microbiology; Severe acute respiratory syndrome; Method; Virology; Infection; Virus; Coronavirus; Viral disease; Antiviral; Coronaviridae; Detection; Nidovirales
• ISSN: 0166-0934; 1879-0984
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2005.05.010

The severity and global spread of the 2003 outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) highlighted the risks to human health posed by emerging viral diseases and emphasized the need for specific therapeutic agents instead of relying on existing broadly active antiviral compounds. The development of rapid screening assays is essential for antiviral drug discovery. Thus, a screening system for anti-SARS-CoV agents was developed, which evaluated compound potency, specificity and cytotoxicity at the initial screening phase. Cell lines were engineered to constitutively express an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and used to detect (1) antiviral potency in SARS-CoV infection tests; (2) antiviral specificity in tests using the porcine coronavirus transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV); and (3) cytotoxicity in the same assays without virus challenge. The assay system involves minimal manipulation after assay set-up, facilitates automated read-out and minimizes risks associated with hazardous viruses. The suitability of this assay system in drug discovery was demonstrated by screening of 3388 small molecule compounds. The results show that these assays can be applied to high-throughput screening for identification of inhibitors selectively active against SARS-CoV.