Industry’s First West Nile Virus Protease Assay Kits

San Jose, CA, May 17, 2007 --(PR.com)-- While West Nile virus (WNV) has had significant outbreaks throughout the world since it was first identified, commercially available assay kits for the detection of WNV protease inhibitors had not been developed until now. With the SensoLyte™ series of WNV Protease Assay Kits AnaSpec, a worldwide provider of integrated proteomics solutions, has introduced the industry’s first commercially available assay kits for the detection of WNV protease NS3 inhibitors.

West Nile virus (WNV), from the family Flaviviridae,1 was first identified in the West Nile district of Uganda in 1937.2 WNV outbreaks have been reported in Israel in the 50’s, France in the 60’s and South Africa in the 70’s.3 In 1999, the first documented WNV infection in the US was reported in New York.4 The main route of human infection is through infected mosquito bites. WNV infection can cause severe neurological disease and fatalities in both human and animal hosts.

WNV contains a single-stranded, positive-sense RNA genome, which encodes three structural proteins (capsid (C), membrane (M), envelope (E)), and seven non-structural proteins (NS1, NS2A, NS2B, NS3, NS4A, NS4B, NS5).5, 6 NS3 protease is essential (along with viral-encoded cofactor NS2B) for post-translational processing of a viral polypeptide precursor in infected host cells. This polypeptide provides the structural and functional viral proteins. Inhibition of its processing could represent a potential treatment for viral infections. With no effective vaccine or antiviral drug to protect against WNV infection,7 this protease represents a potentially key target for developing anti-WNV drugs.8, 9

The SensoLyte™ AMC West Nile Virus Protease Assay Kit provides a homogeneous assay for high throughput screening of West Nile Virus protease NS3 inhibitors. Utilizing a fluorogenic peptide, it provides continuous measurement and quantification of protease activity.10 Depending on the kit, the peptide generates the AMC (7-amino-4-methylcoumarin) or TAMRA fluorophore upon NS3 protease cleavage. AMC has bright blue fluorescence that can be detected with excitation at 354 nm and emission at 442 nm. TAMRA has red fluorescence that can be detected with excitation at 541 nm and emission at 568 nm.

R&D Manager, Dr. Rich Meyer, noted, “AnaSpec is committed to being a leader in the development of novel assay kits for our customers. The introduction of our SensoLyte™ WNV Protease Assay Kits is representative of this dedication to innovation.”

There are two available versions of the SensoLyte™ West Nile Virus Protease Assay Kits:
• SensoLyte™ 440 West Nile Virus Protease Assay Kit
• SensoLyte™ 570 West Nile Virus Protease Assay

For more information visit www.anaspec.com

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Company Information

AnaSpec, Inc. is a leading provider of integrated proteomics solutions to pharmaceutical, biotech, and academic research institutions throughout the world. With a vision for innovation through synergy, AnaSpec focuses on three core technologies: peptides, detection reagents (dyes, assay kits, & antibodies), and combinatorial chemistry. Established in 1993, AnaSpec's ISO9001:2000 certified headquarters and manufacturing facilities are located in San Jose, CA.

References
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3. Internet. http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET/WNV.html, accessed April 13, 2007.
4. Klee, AL. et al. Emerg Infect Dis.10, 1405 (2004).
5. Brinton, MA. Annu. Rev. Microbiol. 56, 371 (2002).
6. Lanciotti, RS. et al., Science 286, 2333 (1999).
7. van der Meulen, KM et al., Arch. Virol. 150, 637 (2005).
8. Mueller, NH. et al., Int. J.Biochem.Cell Biol. 39(3), 606 (2007).
9. Shiryaev, SA. et al., Biochem.J 393, 503 (2006).
10. Chappell, KJ. et al., J. Biol. Chem. 281, 38448 (2006).