Antiviral testing

Antivirals in the broad sense can function by:

• Targeting viral proteins directly
• Targeting host cell factors that are essential for virus replication
• Enhancing the function of the immune system in its reaction to the virus

Efficacy assays

Since antiviral development is often a process of trial and error, in vitro efficacy testing is an important step to identify the most promising candidates for further development. Due to our expertise, we can offer broad services to test the efficacy of antivirals against a variety of veterinary and zoonotic viruses and in different cell lines in vitro.

In these tests, we can determine the level of viral replication in the presence or absence of antivirals; determine the IC50 of the antiviral compounds, or perform virus neutralization assays with compounds that have neutralizing capacity. In addition WBVR can determine the efficacy of disinfecting agents against viruses. Currently, we offer antiviral and disinfectant testing for among others:

• African swine fever virus (ASFV)
• Avian influenza virus (AIV)
• Classical swine fever virus (CSFV)
• Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV)
• Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)

Other viruses are available upon request.

• Read more about disinfectant testing

SARS-CoV-2 models

Severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is currently causing a pandemic outbreak. Infections result in the COVID-19 disease in humans, characterized by symptoms such as fever, dry cough, fatigue and loss of smell and taste. Antivirals can suppress the growth of this coronavirus. We offer a dedicated in vitro model to test the efficacy of antiviral compounds in susceptible, to select candidates that are active against SARS-CoV-2. This can be followed up by in vivo testing in our hamster model.

• Read more about our in vitro COVID-19 model
• Read more about our in vivo COVID-19 hamster model