Assays That Measure Selective Killing of Virus-Infected Cells

When evaluating potential antiviral compounds, determining the effect of the drug on virus replication is usually the prime concern. However, since virus replication is dependent on the host cell, in circumstances where virus infection is not rapidly lytic to cells, the effect of these compounds on cell growth and viability merits consideration. Differential host cell metabolism has been reported for cells infected with viruses, e.g., HIV, measles, and HSV, and therefore it is possible that cells infected with viruses have different susceptibilities to antiviral drugs, depending on the their mode of action. Experience with HIV and a potential anti-HIV drug, EF13, showed that HIV-chronically infected cells were markedly more susceptible to EF13 than their parent uninfected cells (1 ); however, acutely HIV-infected cells showed a similar susceptibility as uninfected cells to EF13 (2 ). In addition, cells containing actively replicating HIV-1 were more susceptible to EF13 than either uninfected cells or cells infected with but not producing HIV-1 (3 ).