Replication-Competent Influenza Virus and Respiratory Syncytial Virus Luciferase Reporter Strains Engineered for Co-Infections Identify Antiviral Compounds in Combination Screens

Biochemistry. 2015 Sep 15;54(36):5589-604. doi: 10.1021/acs.biochem.5b00623. Epub 2015 Sep 1.

Abstract

Myxoviruses such as influenza A virus (IAV) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are major human pathogens, mandating the development of novel therapeutics. To establish a high-throughput screening protocol for the simultaneous identification of pathogen- and host-targeted hit candidates against either pathogen or both, we have attempted co-infection of cells with IAV and RSV. However, viral replication kinetics were incompatible, RSV signal window was low, and an IAV-driven minireplicon reporter assay used in initial screens narrowed the host cell range and restricted the assay to single-cycle infections. To overcome these limitations, we developed an RSV strain carrying firefly luciferase fused to an innovative universal small-molecule assisted shut-off domain, which boosted assay signal window, and a hyperactive fusion protein that synchronized IAV and RSV reporter expression kinetics and suppressed the identification of RSV entry inhibitors sensitive to a recently reported RSV pan-resistance mechanism. Combined with a replication-competent recombinant IAV strain harboring nanoluciferase, the assay performed well on a human respiratory cell line and supports multicycle infections. Miniaturized to 384-well format, the protocol was validated through screening of a set of the National Institutes of Health Clinical Collection (NCC) in quadruplicate. These test screens demonstrated favorable assay parameters and reproducibility. Application to a LOPAC library of bioactive compounds in a proof-of-concept campaign detected licensed antimyxovirus therapeutics, ribavirin and the neuraminidase inhibitor zanamivir, and identified two unexpected RSV-specific hit candidates, Fenretinide and the opioid receptor antagonist BNTX-7. Hits were evaluated in direct and orthogonal dose-response counterscreens using a standard recRSV reporter strain expressing Renilla luciferase.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antiviral Agents / chemistry*
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology
  • Benzylidene Compounds / pharmacology
  • Cell Line
  • Coinfection
  • Dogs
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Fenretinide / chemistry
  • Fenretinide / pharmacology
  • Genes, Reporter
  • High-Throughput Screening Assays
  • Humans
  • Influenza A virus / drug effects
  • Influenza A virus / genetics*
  • Influenza A virus / physiology
  • Luciferases, Firefly / genetics
  • Luciferases, Renilla / genetics
  • Naltrexone / analogs & derivatives
  • Naltrexone / pharmacology
  • Narcotic Antagonists / chemistry
  • Narcotic Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Neuraminidase / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / drug effects
  • Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / genetics*
  • Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / physiology
  • Ribavirin / chemistry
  • Ribavirin / pharmacology
  • Virus Internalization / drug effects
  • Virus Replication
  • Zanamivir / chemistry
  • Zanamivir / pharmacology

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Benzylidene Compounds
  • Narcotic Antagonists
  • 7-benzylidenenaltrexone
  • Fenretinide
  • Ribavirin
  • Naltrexone
  • Luciferases, Renilla
  • Luciferases, Firefly
  • Neuraminidase
  • Zanamivir