The University of Texas System

Andrey A Kolokoltsov

Robert A Davey

Mohammad F Saeed

The present invention discloses method to treat infections caused by filovirus. Such a method comprises blocking the PI3 kinase pathway or the calcium-associated pathway at the gene or protein level. Also disclosed herein are the compounds useful in the treatment of filoviral infection.

Inhibition of filovirus entry into cells and uses thereof

The present invention provides a rapid virus entry/binding detection assay. An enzyme such as luciferase was incorporated at the C-terminal end of viral envelope proteins of the HIV Nef protein that would specifically associate with cell membranes to deliver the enzyme into viral particles upon viral assembly. Virus entry/binding can then be assayed by determining the enzymatic activities in infected cells. The assay allows high-throughput non-radioactive detection of virus entry within 30 minutes after virus-cell contact. This assay provides high signal to noise ratio and is useful for screening compounds that affect virus-cell binding and entry. The design also permits packaging of potential therapeutic proteins into functional virus particles and delivering them to specific cellular targets.

High-throughput assay for virus entry and drug screening

The present invention provides a rapid virus entry/binding detection assay. An enzyme such as luciferase was incorporated at the C-terminal end of viral envelope proteins that would deliver the enzyme into the viral particles upon viral assembly. Virus entry/binding can then be assayed by determining the enzymatic activities in infected cells. The assay allows high-throughput non-radioactive detection of virus entry within 30 minutes after virus-cell contact. This assay provides high signal to noise ratio and is useful for screening compounds that affect virus-cell binding and entry. The design also permits packaging of potential therapeutic proteins into functional virus particles and delivering them to specific cellular targets.

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Galveston, TX, United States of America

Andrey A Kolokoltsov