Evaluation of the antiviral effect of new compounds by using cellular cultures

Replication Kinetics of HIV was studied under single-growth cycle conditions in C8166 lymphoblastoid cells by back-titrating released and cell-associated infectious virus et each time point. Under these conditions HIV seemed to replicate faster than previously estimated. The amount cell-associated virus always exceeded that detectable in the medium. In these conditions the replication curve of HIV is completed at 24 h post infection. At lower multiplicity of infection, virus yield peaks at approximately 72 h post-infection, and the virus released in the medium is negligible with respect to that which remains cell-associated. The method based on back-titration of virus in cryolysates of C8166 cells infected with HIV and treated with antiviral compounds has been used to evaluate HIV sensitivity to some agents. This method allows a precise and quick determination of the degree of activity of antiviral drugs.