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Survey of acyclovir-resistant herpes simplex virus in the Netherlands: prevalence and characterization.

BACKGROUND: Widespread and frequent use of acyclovir (ACV) for treatment, suppressive therapy and prophylaxis of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections and its over the counter availability may be associated with emergence of HSV resistance. OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of ACV-resistant HSV isolates in different patient groups between 1999 and 2002 in the Netherlands. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 542 isolates, 410 HSV-1 and 132 HSV-2, from 496 patients were screened for reduced susceptibility to ACV. A newly developed ELVIRA HSV screening assay was used that allowed a high throughput screening. The genotypic analysis of the HSV thymidine kinase gene was performed to identify resistance-associated mutations. RESULTS: Thirteen isolates, 8 HSV-1 and 5 HSV-2, from 10 patients (2%) were found resistant to ACV. A single ACV-resistant strain was identified among isolates from 368 immunocompetent patients (0.27%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.007%-1.5%), whereas in nine isolates from 128 immunocompromised patients resistant HSV was identified (7%; 95% CI, 3.26%-12.93%). The highest frequency of ACV-resistant HSV was associated with bone marrow transplantation: four patients out of 28 (14.3%) shed resistant virus. In addition, resistant virus was obtained from two HIV-positive patients, one patient with a hematological malignancy and two patients on immunosuppressive drugs. Further testing showed that none of the isolates was resistant to foscarnet. Several new mutations were identified in the thymidine kinase gene of these resistant isolates, and their effect on ACV-resistance is discussed. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that the prevalence of ACV resistance is low in immunocompetent patients (0.27%), whereas ACV-resistant HSV infections occur relatively frequently in immunocompromised patients (7%; P < 0.0001). This emphasizes the need for drug susceptibility monitoring of HSV infections in immunocompromised patients with persisting infections despite antiviral therapy.

Acyclovir↗

Assaying gene function by growth competition experiment.

High-throughput screening and analysis is one of the emerging paradigms in biotechnology. In particular, high-throughput methods are essential in the field of functional genomics because of the vast amount of data generated in recent and ongoing genome sequencing efforts. In this report we discuss integrated functional analysis methodologies which incorporate both a growth competition component and a highly parallel assay used to quantify results of the growth competition. Several applications of the two most widely used technologies in the field, i.e., transposon mutagenesis and deletion strain library growth competition, and individual applications of several developing or less widely reported technologies are presented.

Animals↗

The discovery of Kv1.5 blockers as a case study for the application of virtual screening approaches.

Different virtual screening techniques are available as alternatives to high throughput screening. These different techniques have been rarely used together on the same target. We had the opportunity to do so in order to discover novel blockers of the voltage-dependent potassium channel Kv1.5, a potential target for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. Our corporate database was searched, using a protein-based pharmacophore, derived from a homology model, as query. As a result, 244 molecules were screened in vitro, 19 of them (7.8%) were found to be active. Five of them, belonging to five different chemical classes, exhibited IC50 values under 10 microM. The performance of this structure-based virtual screening protocol has been compared with those of similarity and ligand-based pharmacophore searches. The analysis of the results supports the conventional wisdom of using as many virtual screening techniques as possible in order to maximize the chance of finding as many chemotypes as possible.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Identification of compounds with binding affinity to proteins via magnetization transfer from bulk water.

A powerful screening by NMR methodology (WaterLOGSY), based on transfer of magnetization from bulk water, for the identification of compounds that interact with target biomolecules (proteins, RNA and DNA fragments) is described. The method exploits efficiently the large reservoir of H2O magnetization. The high sensitivity of the technique reduces the amount of biomolecule and ligands needed for the screening, which constitutes an important requirement for high throughput screening by NMR of large libraries of compounds. Application of the method to a compound mixture against the cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (cdk2) protein is presented.

CDC2-CDC28 Kinases↗

A non-radioactive method for the assay of many serine/threonine-specific protein kinases.

The generation of drugs that modulate the activities of particular protein kinases has become a prime focus of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. Consequently, improved methods for the development of high-throughput screening formats for these enzymes is a high priority. In the present study, we have designed three generic peptide substrates that can be used to assay a diverse range of protein kinases. These peptides share a common seven-residue epitope that includes the site of phosphorylation, and against which we have generated a phospho-specific antibody. Thus a large number of serine/threonine-specific protein kinases can be screened using a simple non-radioactive format.

Animals↗

Application of Micro Arrayed Compound Screening (microARCS) to identify inhibitors of caspase-3.

Micro Arrayed Compound Screening (microARCS) is a miniaturized ultra-high-throughput screening platform developed at Abbott Laboratories. In this format, 8,640 discrete compounds are spotted and dried onto a polystyrene sheet, which has the same footprint as a 96-well plate. A homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence assay format (LANCE) was applied to identify the inhibitors of caspase-3 using a peptide substrate labeled with a fluorescent europium chelate and a dabcyl quencher. The caspase-3 enzyme was cast into a thin agarose gel, which was placed on a sheet containing test compounds. A second gel containing caspase substrate was then laid above the enzyme gel to initiate the reaction. Caspase-3 cleaves the substrate and separates the europium from the quencher, giving rise to a time-resolved fluorescent signal, which was detected using a ViewLux charge-coupled device imaging system. Potential inhibitors of caspase-3 appeared as dark spots on a bright fluorescent background. Results from the microARCS assay format were compared to those from a conventional 96-well plate-screening format.

Apoptosis↗

Screening for novel enzymes from metagenome and SIGEX, as a way to improve it.

Metagenomics has been successfully applied to isolate novel biocatalysts from the uncultured microbiota in the environment. Two types of screening have been used to identify clones carrying desired traits from metagenomic libraries: function-based screening, and sequence-based screening. Both function- and sequence- based screening have individual advantages and disadvantages, and they have been applied successfully to discover biocatalysts from metagenome. However, both strategies are laborious and tedious because of the low frequency of screening hits. A recent paper introduced a high throughput screening strategy, termed substrate-induced gene-expression screening (SIGEX). SIGEX is designed to select the clones harboring catabolic genes induced by various substrates in concert with fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS). This method was applied successfully to isolate aromatic hydrocarbon-induced genes from a metagenomic library. Although SIGEX has many limitations, it is expected to provide economic advantages, especially to industry.

Journal Article↗

A cell-based high-throughput assay for screening inhibitors of human papillomavirus-16 long control region activity.

Cervical carcinomas express human papillomavirus (HPV) E6 and E7 oncoproteins, which are required to maintain the proliferative state of cancer cells. Repression of E6 and E7 expression results in acquisition of senescent phenotype and in the rescue of functional p53 and p105(Rb) pathways; therefore, therapies directed against either viral protein may be beneficial. However, the systems to study HPV in vitro are technically difficult and not convenient for screening of antiviral compounds. This has hampered the discovery of drugs against HPV. Here we describe the generation and use of a high-throughput screening system based on keratinocytes stably transfected with a reporter construct containing the regulatory sequence of E6 and E7 gene transcription (LCR) that allows easy detection of inhibitors of E6 and E7 expression in libraries of synthetic or biological compounds. The assay was used to screen a wide panel of cytokines: among them, IL-4, IL-13, TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2, TGF-beta3, TNF-alpha, IFN-alpha, and IFN-beta were found to induce a strong inhibition of the LCR activity. Our assay provides a validated tool in the search for drugs against HPV-associated cervical carcinomas and allowed the first systematic analysis of the effect of cytokines on the HPV-16 LCR transcriptional activity.

Cell Line↗

[Cytokine aptamers as therapeutic and diagnostic agents].

Aptamers are oligonucleotides derived from an in vitro evolution process called SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment). Aptamers specially binding to targets could recognize and inhibit the function of targets. Using this method, many powerful antagonists of cytokines have been found. In order for these antagonists to work in animal models of disease and in humans, it is necessary to modify the aptamers. First of all, 2'-F, 2'-NH2 and 2'-CH3O modifications of nucleoside triphosphates could prolong half-lives in blood. Aptamers can be kept in the circulation from hours to days by conjugating them to higher molecular weight vehicles. After modified, conjugated aptamers are injected into animals, they inhibit physiological functions known to be associated with their target cytokines. Exhibiting binding characteristics comparable to or even better than monoclonal antibodies, these ligands can be used as detection probes, highly efficient inhibitors of protein function or specific competitors in high-throughput screening (HTS) assays. Recently several aptamers of cytokines have been characterized. Some of them have been used as diagnostic agent for the detection of target cytokines. The first aptamer that has proceeded to phase II clinical studies is NX-1838, an injectable angiogenesis inhibitor that can be potentially used to treat macular degeneration-induced blindness. Aptamers will be versatile tools that can greatly enhance the efficiency of modern diagnose and therapy development.

Cytokines↗

Virtual ligand screening: strategies, perspectives and limitations.

In contrast to high-throughput screening, in virtual ligand screening (VS), compounds are selected using computer programs to predict their binding to a target receptor. A key prerequisite is knowledge about the spatial and energetic criteria responsible for protein-ligand binding. The concepts and prerequisites to perform VS are summarized here, and explanations are sought for the enduring limitations of the technology. Target selection, analysis and preparation are discussed, as well as considerations about the compilation of candidate ligand libraries. The tools and strategies of a VS campaign, and the accuracy of scoring and ranking of the results, are also considered.

Binding Sites↗

High-throughput assessment of mitochondrial membrane potential in situ using fluorescence resonance energy transfer.

Mitochondrial dysfunction causes dozens of debilitating diseases, and is implicated in the etiology of type 2 diabetes, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's diseases, among others. However, development of mitochondrially targeted therapeutic agents has been impeded by the lack of high-throughput screening techniques that are capable of distinguishing in intact cells the mitochondrial membrane potential (deltapsi(m)) from the plasma membrane potential, (deltapsi(p)). We report here a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) assay that specifically monitors deltapsi(m) that is not confounded by background signal arising from potentiometric dye responding to deltapsi(p). The technique relies on energy transfer between nonyl acridine orange (NAO), which stains diphosphatidyl glycerol (cardiolipin) that is indigenous to the inner mitochondrial membrane, and tetramethylrhodamine methyl ester (TMR), a potentiometric dye that is sequestered by mitochondria as a Nernstian function of deltapsi(m) and concentration. FRET occurs only when both dyes co-localize to the mitochondria, and results in quenching of NAO emission by TMR in proportion to deltapsi(m). Validation studies using compounds with well-characterized mitochondrial effects, including oligomycin, CCCP+, bongkrekic acid, cyclosporin A, nigericin, ADP, and ruthenium red, demonstrate that the FRET-based deltapsi(m) assay responds in accord with the known pharmacology. Validation studies assessing the suitability of the technique for high-throughput compound screening indicate that the assay provides a sensitive and robust assessment not only of mitochondrial integrity in situ, but also, when used in conjunction with agents such as cyclosporin A, an indicator of permeability transition.

Journal Article↗

Screening of Compounds Toxicity against Human Monocytic cell line-THP-1 by Flow Cytometry.

The worldwide rapid increase in bacterial resistance to numerous antibiotics requires on-going development of new drugs to enter the market. As the development of new antibiotics is lengthy and costly, early monitoring of compound's toxicity is essential in the development of novel agents. Our interest is in a rapid, simple, high throughput screening method to assess cytotoxicity induced by potential agents. Some intracellular pathogens, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis primary site of infection is human alveolar macrophages. Thus, evaluation of candidate drugs for macrophage toxicity is crucial. Protocols for high throughput drug toxicity screening of macrophages using flow cytometry are lacking in the literature. For this application we modified a preexisting technique, propidium iodide (PI) exclusion staining and utilized it for rapid toxicity tests. Samples were prepared in 96 well plates and analyzed by flow cytometry, which allowed for rapid, inexpensive and precise assessment of compound's toxicity associated with cell death.

Journal Article↗

Defining APOBEC-induced mutation signatures and modifying activities in yeast.

APOBEC cytidine deaminases guard cells in a variety of organisms from invading viruses and foreign nucleic acids. Recently, several human APOBECs have been implicated in mutating evolving cancer genomes. Expression of APOBEC3A and APOBEC3B in yeast allowed experimental derivation of the substitution patterns they cause in dividing cells, which provided critical links to these enzymes in the etiology of the COSMIC single base substitution (SBS) signatures 2 and 13 in human tumors. Additionally, the ability to scale yeast experiments to high-throughput screens allows use of this system to also investigate cellular pathways impacting the frequency of APOBEC-induced mutation. Here, we present validated methods utilizing yeast to determine APOBEC mutation signatures, genetic interactors, and chromosomal substrate preferences. These methods can be employed to assess the potential of other human APOBECs and APOBEC orthologs in different species to contribute to cancer genome evolution as well as define the pathways that protect the nuclear genome from inadvertent APOBEC activity during viral restriction.

Humans↗

A screening method of SH2 domain ligands and blockers using a solid phase binding.

We have developed a high throughput screening method for SH2 domain binding ligands and blockers. This method measures directly the binding of a 3H-labeled phosphopeptide derived from the sequence around tyrosine317 in the human Shc (SpYVNVK) to the SH2 domain of Grb2, which is precoated as glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins on solid phase. The optimum concentration for the fusion protein coating was 300 ng/100 microl/well for SH2 domain binding. Although an 8-h incubation at 4 degrees C for the coating of fusion protein was required to reach a maximum binding, even a 2-h coating produced 84% of the maximum binding. Saturation of ligand peptide binding in our assay system was observed at 10 pmol/well for the SH2 domain. However, 2 pmol/well showed consistent and reproducible results for the binding when the incubations were performed for 8 h at 4 degrees C. Competitive binding inhibition studies with various unlabeled phosphopeptides imply that the binding assay is highly specific to peptide sequences and able to screen possible ligands or blockers of signal transduction pathway mediated by Grb2 SH2 binding. In conclusion, our new method for SH2 domain binding is easy, rapid, and most of all inexpensive. These advantages over existing assay methods make this method especially suitable for a high throughput application, such as the screening for anticancer drug candidates.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Pro-antibiotic substrates for the identification of enantioselective hydrolases.

A new growth-based screening method for the identification of enantioselective hydrolases, such as lipases and esterases, using pro-antibiotic substrates was devised. An enantioselective hydrolase could be identified by measuring growth rates of cells in liquid media containing (R)- or (S)-2-phenylbutyric chloramphenicol esters. This method can be applied to the screening of novel enantioselective microbes and to the high-throughput screening for the directed evolution of enantioselective hydrolytic enzymes.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Grid-enabled high-throughput in silico screening against influenza A neuraminidase.

Encouraged by the success of the first EGEE biomedical data challenge against malaria (WISDOM), the second data challenge battling avian flu was kicked off in April 2006 to identify new drugs for the potential variants of the influenza A virus. Mobilizing thousands of CPUs on the Grid, the six-week-long high-throughput screening activity has fulfilled over 100 CPU years of computing power and produced around 600 gigabytes of results on the Grid for further biological analysis and testing. In the paper, we demonstrate the impact of a worldwide Grid infrastructure to efficiently deploy large-scale virtual screening to speed up the drug design process. Lessons learned through the data challenge activity are also discussed.

Binding Sites↗

Life in the fast lane: high-throughput chemistry for lead generation and optimisation.

The pharmaceutical industry has come under increasing pressure due to regulatory restrictions on the marketing and pricing of drugs, competition, and the escalating costs of developing new drugs. These forces can be addressed by the identification of novel targets, reductions in the development time of new drugs, and increased productivity. Emphasis has been placed on identifying and validating new targets and on lead generation: the response from industry has been very evident in genomics and high throughput screening, where new technologies have been applied, usually coupled with a high degree of automation. The combination of numerous new potential biological targets and the ability to screen large numbers of compounds against many of these targets has generated the need for large diverse compound collections. To address this requirement, high-throughput chemistry has become an integral part of the drug discovery process.

Automation↗

Nanoliter microfluidic hybrid method for simultaneous screening and optimization validated with crystallization of membrane proteins.

High-throughput screening and optimization experiments are critical to a number of fields, including chemistry and structural and molecular biology. The separation of these two steps may introduce false negatives and a time delay between initial screening and subsequent optimization. Although a hybrid method combining both steps may address these problems, miniaturization is required to minimize sample consumption. This article reports a "hybrid" droplet-based microfluidic approach that combines the steps of screening and optimization into one simple experiment and uses nanoliter-sized plugs to minimize sample consumption. Many distinct reagents were sequentially introduced as approximately 140-nl plugs into a microfluidic device and combined with a substrate and a diluting buffer. Tests were conducted in approximately 10-nl plugs containing different concentrations of a reagent. Methods were developed to form plugs of controlled concentrations, index concentrations, and incubate thousands of plugs inexpensively and without evaporation. To validate the hybrid method and demonstrate its applicability to challenging problems, crystallization of model membrane proteins and handling of solutions of detergents and viscous precipitants were demonstrated. By using 10 microl of protein solution, approximately 1,300 crystallization trials were set up within 20 min by one researcher. This method was compatible with growth, manipulation, and extraction of high-quality crystals of membrane proteins, demonstrated by obtaining high-resolution diffraction images and solving a crystal structure. This robust method requires inexpensive equipment and supplies, should be especially suitable for use in individual laboratories, and could find applications in a number of areas that require chemical, biochemical, and biological screening and optimization.

Crystallization↗