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Updated: Apr 7, 2026
Early Viral Entry Assays for the Identification and Evaluation of Antiviral Compounds
Published on: October 29, 2015
In Vitro Efficacy of Antiviral Compounds against Enterovirus D68
Eric Rhoden1, Mingyu Zhang2, W Allan Nix1
1Division of Viral Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Abstract:
In 2014, the United States experienced a large outbreak of severe respiratory illness associated with enterovirus D68 (EV-D68). We used a homogeneous, cell-based assay to assess the antiviral activity of compounds developed for EV/rhinovirus infection or other indications. Three of 15 compounds were highly active against all four strains tested (the prototype and three 2014 strains), with 50% effective concentrations of 0.0012 to 0.027 μM. Additional studies are needed to assess their in vivo efficacy against EV-D68.
Insights
Researchers screened compounds for activity against enterovirus D68 (EV-D68), a virus causing severe respiratory illness. Three compounds showed high efficacy in cell-based assays, warranting further investigation for potential treatments.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Infectious Diseases
- Antiviral Drug Discovery
Background:
- Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) caused a significant outbreak of severe respiratory illness in the United States in 2014.
- Effective antiviral therapies for EV-D68 infections are limited, necessitating the exploration of novel therapeutic agents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the antiviral activity of existing compounds against EV-D68.
- To identify potent antiviral agents for potential development against EV-D68.
Main Methods:
- A homogeneous, cell-based assay was employed to screen a library of compounds.
- The antiviral activity was assessed against the prototype and three 2014 strains of EV-D68.
Main Results:
- Three out of fifteen tested compounds demonstrated high antiviral activity against all four EV-D68 strains.
- The effective concentrations (EC50) for these active compounds ranged from 0.0012 to 0.027 μM.
Conclusions:
- Specific compounds exhibit potent in vitro antiviral activity against EV-D68.
- Further in vivo studies are required to determine the efficacy of these compounds as potential EV-D68 therapeutics.
