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Southern Research Scientists Identify Promising Influenza A Inhibitors Using High-Throughput Screening

Southern Research Scientists Identify Promising Influenza A Inhibitors Using High-Throughput Screening

Southern Research scientists have contributed to a groundbreaking new study published in Antiviral Research, demonstrating the power of high-throughput screening to identify potential therapeutics for influenza A. The peer-reviewed study, titled “High-throughput screening for identification of influenza A inhibitors with low cytotoxicity”, showcases the discovery of multiple compound clusters with significant antiviral potential and minimal toxicity.

Key contributors from Southern Research include:

  • Dr. Paige N. Vinson, Director of High-Throughput Screening, who led the design and execution of the compound screening strategy.
  • Dr. Jennifer Pickens, Director of Study Management and Infectious Disease Research, who contributed her expertise in viral pathogenesis and compound validation.
  • Dr. Sanjay Sarkar, Senior Scientist in Drug Discovery and Virology, who provided critical support in the characterization of antiviral mechanisms.

These researchers played pivotal roles in evaluating a 200,000-compound library against the influenza strain A/Udorn/72 (H3N2). The cell-based imaging assay used not only measured antiviral activity but also screened for compounds with minimal cytotoxicity—ensuring candidate safety early in the drug discovery process.

Findings Highlight Promising Antiviral Candidates

Key outcomes from the study include:

  • Identification of 3 major structural clusters, 23 minor clusters, and 86 singletons as antiviral hits.
  • Confirmation of activity using additional influenza A strains: H1N1 A/WSN/33 and the pandemic A/California/07/09.
  • Discovery of three promising compounds from Cluster A — SRI-44211, SRI-44215, and SRI-44221 — which exhibited selectivity indices of 54.3–252 against the A/California/07/09 strain.

These findings mark a significant step forward in Southern Research’s ongoing mission to advance human health through science and innovation. By leveraging our state-of-the-art high-throughput screening capabilities and deep virology expertise, our team continues to drive the discovery of novel antiviral therapies with real-world impact. As influenza and other viral threats continue to evolve, Southern Research remains at the forefront of identifying safe, effective solutions that can shape the future of infectious disease treatment.

Partner with Southern Research to Accelerate Your Antiviral Discovery

Looking to advance your antiviral pipeline with proven screening technologies and infectious disease expertise? Southern Research offers fully integrated discovery services—from high-throughput screening to lead optimization—tailored to your program’s needs.

Connect with our scientific team today to explore how we can support your next breakthrough.

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