SARS-CoV cytopathic effect in cell culture (SARS-CoV CPE)

SARS-CoV cytopathic effect (CPE) in cell culture is a phenotypic manifestation of viral infection characterized by structural changes and eventual death of the host cell (StatPearls, 2023). This effect is commonly used as a primary readout in antiviral drug discovery assays to identify compounds that inhibit the replication or pathogenicity of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV) (PubMed, 2003). Morphological changes associated with CPE include cell rounding, granulation, syncytium formation, and total destruction of the cell monolayer (Wikipedia, 2024). In a laboratory setting, the inhibition of CPE serves as a surrogate marker for the efficacy of therapeutic candidates, such as polymerase inhibitors or entry blockers (ChEMBL, 2024). While it provides a holistic view of a drug's impact on the viral life cycle, it is an assay endpoint rather than a specific molecular target like a receptor or enzyme. Consequently, drugs identified via this method may act through diverse mechanisms of action across various viral and host proteins (NIH, 2020).

Other names

Cytopathic effectSARS-CoV-induced CPEViral cytopathic effectCPESARS-CoV-induced cell death

Antiviral agents reduce the cytopathic effect by inhibiting various stages of the viral life cycle, including entry, genome replication, and assembly, thereby preserving host cell viability (PubMed, 2003; ChEMBL, 2024).