Life Sciences & Biotechnology
Title : | Development of high throughput assay systems for screening of antiviral compounds against Dengue and Japanese Encephalitis Viruses |
Area of research : | Life Sciences & Biotechnology |
Principal Investigator : | Dr. Rahul Shukla, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR-CDRI), Uttar Pradesh |
Timeline Start Year : | 2022 |
Timeline End Year : | 2024 |
Contact info : | rahul.shukla1@cdri.res.in |
Equipments : | Liquid Nitrogen Locator 6 Rack and Box System
Bench top refrigerated centrifuge with swinging out plate, falcan rotors |
Details
Executive Summary : | India, a growing economy with a large population and specific demography, is also endemic to deadly viruses like Dengue (DENV) and Japanese Encephalitis viruses (JEV). Both DENV and JEV are mosquito-borne flaviviruses of the Flaviviridae family, dominated in South-East Asia. JEV is the leading viral agent of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) in South Asia and Western Pacific countries, exposing over 3 billion people to risks of infection and causing morbidity, mortality, and lifetime disability. Despite few licensed vaccines, JEV cases continue to expand across ASEAN countries. To develop safe and cost-effective antivirals against JEV, the CDRI laboratory is working on developing high throughput screening assay systems. They have identified small molecules of JEV structural proteins that interplay in the viral life cycle and have the potential to inhibit viral activity. To screen these New Chemical Entities (NCEs), a validated, robust, and high throughput bio-assay system is required. Two cell-based in vitro assay systems will be developed: (1) Plaque Reduction Neutralization Test (PRNT), which tests the direct antiviral potential of NCEs; (2) Flow cytometry-based viral inhibition assay, which observes the direct virus inhibitory effect of NCEs. Animal models will be established against JEV to assess in vivo efficacy of potential antivirals. Based on in vitro and in vivo efficacy data, potential antiviral candidates will be transferred to pharma companies for further clinical evaluation. These validated bio-models could also suggest the development of antivirals against DENV or other nationally important flaviviruses in the future. |
Total Budget (INR): | 32,32,330 |
Organizations involved