Improvements in methods for screening potential antiviral agents agains t respiratory syncytial virus

Objective:To establish a rapid and reliable m et hod for screening potential antiviral agents against respiratory syncytial virus based on the cytopathogenic effect inhibition assay. Methods: Hep-2 cells of different inoculated density were infected by RSV and the numbe rs of lesions of cytopathic effect(CPE) were counted everyday.The appropriate ex periment conditions were determinated through evaluation of cell growth and the development of CPE.The antiviral effect of ribavirin was tested both by the plaq ue reduction assay and the improved method, and the results were analyzed with (ANOVA) by the software of SAS. Results: The average EC_(5 0) had no significant difference with the plaque reduction assay((P0.05 )). The appropriate experimental conditions were as follows :Hep-2 cells were inoculated in 96-well plastic plates about (1.5～2.0)×10~(4) per well, viru s suspension containing an appropriate concentrations of the test compounds were inoculated after 24-(36 h), CPE was evaluated after 4-5 days of incubations. Conclusion: The improved method for screening antiviral agents (against) respiratory syncytial virus is reliable,simple and rapid.