title: In vivo imaging assay for the convenient evaluation of antiviral compounds against cytomegalovirus in mice.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Souichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kosugi
authors.forename: Harutaka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Katano
authors.forename: Yoshiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fukui
authors.forename: Hideya
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kawasaki
authors.forename: Yoshifumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Arai
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kurane
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Inoue
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; C485184:enhanced green fluorescent protein; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D015774:Ganciclovir