METHOD AND MEANS FOR HIGH- THROUGHPUT -SCREENING OF COMPOUNDS THAT EXHIBIT ANTI -ARENAVIRUS ACTIVITY

摘要

The invention relates to a recombinant cell-based system in which the expression of the Lassa Virus receptor in one cell and the expression of the GP-C protein from Lassa Virus in another cell is used to have cells fused and thereby to mimic cellular entry of Lassa Virus. The system of the invention further uses reporter genes in one cell population and a transactivator protein in the other cell population to quantify the occurring cell fusion. The system is applied for screening anti-fusion-acting compounds that are thus identified as having anti -Lassa Virus activity. Such compounds are applicable in the treatment of Lassa Virus- induced disease.