In vivo imaging assay for the convenient evaluation of antiviral compounds against cytomegalovirus in mice.
Evaluation of newly identified antiviral compounds against cytomegalovirus (CMV) in vivo still requires laborious and time-consuming experiments using a large number of animals. In this study, we examined an in vivo imaging assay for the evaluation of antiviral compounds using a recombinant murine CMV expressing EGFP (MCMV-GFP). We found the followings: (1) Fluorescent signals were detectable from 1 day after subcutaneous inoculation of the viruses into the backs of mice, and reached to the peak within 2-4 days. (2) Incubation period required for the signal appearance and peak signal intensities depended on the inoculated dose. (3) Not only BALB/c but also a hairless mouse strain, HR1, can be used for the assay, and no need to shave the HR1 mice added to the convenience of the assay. (4) However, BALB/c mice showed better sensitivity and dose-response to the inoculated virus, and inoculation with 200 PFUs of MCMV-GFP still yielded the signals. (5) Demonstration of the antiviral effect of ganciclovir provided a proof-of-concept. Thus, the in vivo imaging assay can allow the fast and convenient initial evaluation of anti-CMV candidate compounds in animals prior to comprehensive analyses.
Yamada
Souichi
S
Department of Virology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan.
Kosugi
Isao
I
Katano
Harutaka
H
Fukui
Yoshiko
Y
Kawasaki
Hideya
H
Arai
Yoshifumi
Y
Kurane
Ichiro
I
Inoue
Naoki
N
D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000187:drug effects*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D005453:Fluorescence; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D015774:Ganciclovir / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D051379:Mice; D008812:Mice, Hairless; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000379:methods*; D018146:Muromegalovirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
D000998:Antiviral Agents; C485184:enhanced green fluorescent protein; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D015774:Ganciclovir