Grant: Operating Grant: Industry-partnered Collaborative Research

The public enjoys protection from viral infectious diseases through the use of modern day vaccines. However, when vaccines are not possible, medications are available to reduce the effects of certain viruses such as herpes simplex, influenza, shingles, cytomegalovirus, and even HIV-1, the cause of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Notably, very new medications for hepatitis C (HCV), for which there is no vaccine, show particular promise by targeting key steps in the HCV life cycle. However, the need for newer, more effective antiviral medications remains a priority as new viruses invade naïve populations and conditions in developing countries continue to allow for the propagation of neglected viral diseases. For example, Dengue, Chikungunya, West Nile, new strains of HCV, and pandemic influenza variants are emerging threats. Many of these emerging viruses have also been resistant to vaccine development, further underscoring the need to develop new medications. This proposal is designed to exploit new antiviral targets called viroporins, which appear to be involved in virus life cycles. Initially studied for influenza, the viroporins have now been characterized in many viruses, and recent data suggest that viroporins may be a viable therapeutic intervention for many viral infectious diseases. In this proposal, we will 1) Develop the means to identify molecules that can inhibit the viroporins of several problem viruses; 2) Determine the effectiveness of identified molecules to block the life cycles of HCV, Dengue, and Influenza viruses.