This screening technology is based on the discovery that protein-uncoating 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.

File Number: UND00-01 

Web site: http://und.edu/research/research-economic-devel...

Disease: Infectious Diseases