Analysis of virus-infected cells by flow cytometry

Flow cytometry has been used to study virus-cell interactions for many year s. This article critically reviews a number of reports on the use of flow c ytometry for the detection of virus-infected cells directly in clinical sam ples and in virus-infected cultured cells. Examples are presented of the us e of flow cytometry to screen antiviral drugs against human immunodeficienc y virus (HIV), human cytomegalovirus, and herpes simplex viruses (HSV) and to perform drug susceptibility testing for these viruses. The use of report er genes such as green fluorescent protein incorporated into HIV or HSV or into cells for the detection of the presence of virus, for drug susceptibil ity assay, and for viral pathogenesis is also covered. Finally, studies on the use of flow cytometry for studying the: effect of virus infection on ap optosis and the cell cycle are summarized. It is hoped that this article wi ll give the reader some understanding of the great potential of this techno logy for studying virus cell interactions. (C) 2000 Academic Press.