Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for assessing susceptibility of a virus to treatment with a drug inhibiting an enzyme of the wild-type virus comprising the steps: a) extracting the viral enzyme from a sample containing the virus; b) measuring the viral enzyme activity both in the absence of the drug and in the presence of the drug at a single predetermined concentration; and c) determining the virus' susceptibility to treatment with the drug from the relation between the enzyme activities in the presence of the drug and the absence of the drug. The invention further relates to a system for performing the method.

Abstract: A method of concentrating and recovering an enzyme activity from enveloped viruses present in a biological sample, is described. The method comprises contacting the biological sample in a first buffer solution with a virus-binding matrix, such as an anion exchanger matrix, to attach virus particles present in the sample to the matrix, washing the matrix carrying the virus particles with a second buffer solution to remove components interfering with viral enzyme activity, lysing the immobilized virus particles in a third buffer solution and recovering the concentrated viral enzyme activity from the third buffer solution. Additionally, a commercial package containing written and/or data carrier instructions for performing laboratory steps for concentration and recovery of an enzyme activity from enveloped viruses present in a biological sample and at least one component necessary for the assay, is disclosed.

Abstract: A method of recovering an enzyme activity, such as reverse transcriptase (RT) activity, from enveloped viruses, such as HIV, in a biological sample containing a non-protected enzymes, is described. A cysteine-modifying substance is used to destroy the activity of the non-protected enzymes, followed by removal of the enveloped virus particles or inactivation of the cysteine-modifying substance with a chemical. Then the virus envelope is lysed and the released enzymes are recovered. Commercial packages containing written and/or data carrier instructions and some chemicals for performing laboratory steps for recovery of an enzyme activity from enveloped viruses, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of recovering an enzyme activity, such as reverse transcriptase (RT) activity, from enveloped viruses, such as HIV, in a biological sample containing a non-protected enzymes, is described. A cysteine-modifying substance is used to destroy the activity of the non-protected enzymes, followed by removal of the enveloped virus particles or inactivation of the cysteine-modifying substance with a chemical. Then the virus envelope is lysed and the released enzymes are recovered. Commercial packages containing written and/or data carrier instructions and some chemicals for performing laboratory steps for recovery of an enzyme activity from enveloped viruses, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of concentrating and recovering an enzyme activity from enveloped viruses present in a biological sample, is described. The method comprises contacting the biological sample in a first buffer solution with a virus-binding matrix, such as an anion exchanger matrix, to attach virus particles present in the sample to the matrix, washing the matrix carrying the virus particles with a second buffer solution to remove components interfering with viral enzyme activity, lysing the immobilized virus particles in a third buffer solution and recovering the concentrated viral enzyme activity from the third buffer solution. Additionally, a commercial package containing written and/or data carrier instructions for performing laboratory steps for concentration and recovery of an enzyme activity from enveloped viruses present in a biological sample and at least one component necessary for the assay, is disclosed.