Core E: Cellular and Organismic Systems for Antiviral Testing

Core E – Cellular and Organismic Systems for Antiviral Testing Summary The Cellular and Organismic Systems Core supports the entire Midwest AViDD Center by coordinating and implementing cell and animal antiviral testing experiments required to address the aims in each of the Projects. A Cellular and Organismic Systems Core group is necessary for this AViDD Center because of the need for consistency in determining the antiviral activity of each compound, and because of the intense requirements for handling pathogens that require high containment. Based at the University of Minnesota, Boston University and the University of Iowa, the Cellular and Organismic Systems Core provides the specialized resources and administrative framework for performing cellular and animal BSL2, BSL3, BSL4 studies. Core E will focus on SARS-CoV-2, Zika virus, Ebola virus and Lassa virus. This core will evaluate validated hits through high throughput screening in Aim 1. Successful compounds will then go back to the projects and cores for further refinement. Aim 2 will then evaluate refined compounds for antiviral activity and dose response, the potential for escape, and efficacy in primary human cells. Finally, compounds that demonstrate efficacy in Aim 2 will be evaluated for prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy in relevant animal disease models in Aim 3.