IDENTIFYING BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE AGENTS THROUGH CULTURE COLOR CHANGE

摘要

The present invention relates to a method of identifying a biologically active agent, which affects a targeted cellular component, whose existence or function is essential for cell viability, pathogenesis or drug resistance. This assay method includes the use of a mixed culture of first and second cell strains. The cell strains may be either strains of different cells or different strains of the same cell type. The two cell strains are distinguished by color differences. The first cell strain has a first color while the second cell strain displays a second color. The second cell strain is also more sensitive towards a class of biologically active agents than is the first cell strain. The first and second cell strains, and a candidate agent are mixed with a medium, appropriate for growth of the strains, forming a mixed assay culture. The culture is then exposed to conditions appropriate for growth. The initial proportions of the first and second cell strains are such that the culture predominantly favors the development of the second color. The biological activity of the agent is then determined from the color of the culture. Where the mixed culture retains the second color, the agent was not active against the target. However, where the culture predominantly becomes the first color, then the agent showed specific activity towards the target.