High throughput screening for small molecule enhancers of the interferon signaling pathway to drive next-generation antiviral drug discovery.

ABSTRACT: Most of current strategies for antiviral therapeutics target the virus specifically and directly, but an alternative approach to drug discovery might be to enhance the immune response to a broad range of viruses. Based on clinical observation in humans and successful genetic strategies in experimental models, we reasoned that an improved interferon (IFN) signaling system might better protect against viral infection. Here we aimed to identify small molecular weight compounds that might mimic this beneficial effect and improve antiviral defense. Accordingly, we developed a cell-based high-throughput screening (HTS) assay to identify small molecules that enhance the IFN signaling pathway components. The assay is based on a phenotypic screen for increased IFN-stimulated response element (ISRE)

SUBMITTER: Patel DA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3344904 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature