When evaluating the antiviral effect of a compound, assessing cellular toxicity in the target cell line is an essential prerequisite (see dedicated SOP). The highest dose allowing > 90 % cell viability is the first tested dose in antiviral assay. SARS-CoV-2, WNV and CHIKV infections on Vero E6 cell line causes a cytopathic effect (CPE) that can be used as a simple, low-cost first-line method for evaluating the antiviral efficacy of compounds.
Anne Bull-Maurer (Wed,) studied this question.