Screening Method for Antiviral Drugs
The University of North Dakota has developed a screening assay for antiviral
drugs. The assay takes advantage of the innate property of double-stranded viruses that
could cause devastating diseases such as cervical cancer and herpes, to identify drugs
that are effective in preventing the infectious activity of the viruses.
Current Issues with Viral Infections:
Protein-coated double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) viruses, such as polyomavirus, papovirus, adenovirus and
herpesvirus, can cause devastating diseases in humans. Cervical cancer, oral and genital herpes are a few of the
diseases caused by these viruses. Not only is it difficult to prevent the spreading of viruses from an infected person,
medications to treat viral infections have not been well developed. Furthermore, viruses are often capable of
developing resistance to antiviral treatments. Commonly available medications merely treat to reduce the
discomfort caused by the viral infections. For these reasons, continuing efforts to discover novel antiviral drugs are
essential in combating against these viruses as well as preventing further spreading of the infections.
Our Technology:
This screening technology is based on the discovery that proteinuncoating process of these viruses within infected cells is an active,
regulated process. The method involves infecting susceptible host cells to a
virus with or without a potential antiviral drug. In the absence of an antiviral
drug, the virus will be transported into the host cell nucleus and become
uncoated. The percentages of the virus appearing as intact virus and uncoated
viral chromatin is determined in a certain nuclear fractions of the host cells.
An effective inhibitor of the virus uncoating process shows a decrease in
uncoated viral chromatin with a corresponding increase in intact virus, thus
proves to possess antiviral property that can prevent the pathogens from
becoming productive and infectious. An assay system based on this
technology opens up the possibility to expand the search for antiviral drugs
into a new class of compounds, allowing development of novel, effective
antiviral therapies.
3
Gradient Fraction Number
4
5
6
7
8
Viral chromatin representing uncoated virus
in different host cell fractions. SV40 virus
chromatin present in each nuclear fraction from
the infected host cells was amplified using the
PCR technique. The greatest amount of intact
SV40 DNA was found in fraction 8.
Advantages:
Identifies a new class of compounds that inhibit the mechanism of viral uncoating
Can be used to develop an anti-viral drug discovery kit
Reference#: UND00-01
US Pat. 6,420,107
For more information, contact:
Kumi Nagamoto-Combs, Ph.D.
Office of Intellectual Property Commercialization & Economic Development
University of North Dakota
(701) 777-2559 / kumi.combs@med.und.edu