Both human and viral genetic materials (ribonucleic acids, RNA) are made up of 4 different basic residues, namely A, U, G and C. Combination of any three of these ribonucleic acids residues is known as codon , which is essential to target one of the twenty amino acids to the host cell machinery for the making of proteins. Eighteen out of these twenty amino acids can be represented by more than one codon during the making of proteins. Interestingly, human and viral proteins, such as HIV-1, utilis ....Both human and viral genetic materials (ribonucleic acids, RNA) are made up of 4 different basic residues, namely A, U, G and C. Combination of any three of these ribonucleic acids residues is known as codon , which is essential to target one of the twenty amino acids to the host cell machinery for the making of proteins. Eighteen out of these twenty amino acids can be represented by more than one codon during the making of proteins. Interestingly, human and viral proteins, such as HIV-1, utilise two completely different subsets of codons (codon bias) for the synthesis of their respective proteins. The objective of this proposal is to delineate the functional requirement of this codon bias in HIV-1 replication cycle. Results from this work will identify novel elements that may be used for the design of novel antiretroviral strategy. Furthermore, lesson learned from this project will also provide important clues to improve the efficacy and safety of the design of current retroviral gene delivery vector.Read moreRead less
Roles Of Virus-integrin Interactions And Rotavirus Modulation Of Host Cell Responses In Viral Pathogenesis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$474,000.00
Summary
Rotaviruses are the main cause of severe gastroenteritis in children, and cause 1 in 27 Australian children under the age of 5 years to spend time in hospital. There is currently no rotavirus vaccine available. We aim to discover how rotavirus interacts with host cells. This information is necessary to formulate a safe and effective vaccine, or a therapeutic agent that can block virus growth in host cells. Previously, we showed that rotavirus attaches to cells and enters them using several membe ....Rotaviruses are the main cause of severe gastroenteritis in children, and cause 1 in 27 Australian children under the age of 5 years to spend time in hospital. There is currently no rotavirus vaccine available. We aim to discover how rotavirus interacts with host cells. This information is necessary to formulate a safe and effective vaccine, or a therapeutic agent that can block virus growth in host cells. Previously, we showed that rotavirus attaches to cells and enters them using several members of the integrin protein family that are present on the surface of the cells. Integrins are critical for cell adhesion, survival and communication. In this project, we will identify how rotavirus usage of integrins modulates cell functions. This will help us understand how rotavirus causes disease, how virus spreads in the body and how the immune response defends us from rotavirus. Rotavirus binds integrins using particular stretches of protein sequence that we have shown are also present in other human viral pathogens that cause hepatitis, AIDS and measles. We will determine if these other viruses also recognize integrins.Read moreRead less