Grant: Operating Grant

Cells respond to virus infections by rapidly producing a set of proteins that function collectively to block virus replication and spread. We previously found that cells recognize virus entry and that they respond to the entry event by rapidly producing a small number of proteins that work within that cell to prevent virus replication. In this grant, we propose to characterize how different cell types respond to virus entry, including cells that are normally the first to encounter virus, along with blood cells that are important components of the immune response. We also propose to study how viruses fight back by blocking the production or function of these response proteins. By understanding how viruses and cells counteract each other, we can learn more about the immune response and how to better design antiviral drugs to successfully fight off virus infections, especially new emerging viruses that have not been fully identified and characterized.