Screening and evaluation of antiviral compounds against Equid alpha-herpesviruses using an impedance-based cellular assay

Virology. 2019 Jan 2:526:105-116. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2018.10.013. Epub 2018 Oct 26.

Abstract

Equid alpha-herpesviruses (EHV) are responsible for different diseases in equine population. EHV-1 causes respiratory diseases, abortions and nervous disorders, EHV-4 causes respiratory diseases and sporadic abortion, while EHV-3 is responsible of equine coital exanthema. In view of the lack of efficacy of vaccines against EHV-1 and EHV-4 and in the absence of vaccines against EHV-3, the use of antiviral treatment is of great interest. In this study, we documented the interest of the Real-Time Cell Analysis (RTCA) technology to monitor the cytopathic effects induced by these viruses on equine dermal cells, and established the efficacy of this method to evaluate the antiviral effect of aciclovir (ACV) and ganciclovir (GCV). In addition, the RTCA technology has also been found appropriate for the high-throughput screening of small molecules against EHV, allowing the identification of spironolactone as a novel antiviral against EHV.

Keywords: Aciclovir; Antiviral; Equid herpesviruses; Ganciclovir; Impedance; Real-time cell analysis; Screening; Spironolactone; xCELLigence.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line
  • Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral / drug effects
  • Electric Impedance*
  • Herpesviridae Infections / pathology
  • Herpesviridae Infections / veterinary*
  • Herpesviridae Infections / virology
  • Herpesvirus 1, Equid / classification
  • Herpesvirus 1, Equid / drug effects*
  • Herpesvirus 3, Equid / drug effects
  • Herpesvirus 4, Equid / drug effects
  • High-Throughput Screening Assays / methods*
  • Horses
  • Spironolactone / pharmacology

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Spironolactone