Compositions And Methods For Detecting Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus

Abstract

The invention provides compositions and methods for detecting the presence of SARS-coronavirus, for screening anti-SARS coronavirus agents and vaccines, and for reducing infection with plus-strand RNA viruses such as SARS-coronavirus.

1 - 54 . (canceled) 
     
     
         55 . A method for inhibition of human coronavirus 229E replication comprising:
 i) providing a composition comprising the protease inhibitor E64D and Captisol; and   ii) contacting a cell permissive for 229E replication with said composition under conditions suitable for inhibiting 229E replication in said cell.   
     
     
         56 - 67 . (canceled) 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein said cell permissive for 229E replication is selected from the group consisting of a human embryonic kidney (HEK)-293 cell, a HEK-293T cell, a Huh-7 cell, a mink lung cell, a Mv1Lu cell, a primary rhesus monkey kidney (pRHMK) cell and a primary cynomolgus monkey kidney (pCMK) cell