Grant: Project Grant

Adenovirus is a common virus that causes mild illness in most patients, primarily respiratory disease, but can be lethal in immunocompromised individuals, or pediatric and geriatric populations. Currently, there are no effective treatments to combat infection with this virus. We are studying the structure of the adenovirus DNA in the host cell and identifying the cellular proteins that the virus uses to express its viral genes. We believe that knowledge of the proteins that govern viral gene expression in the cell will permit us to develop novel therapeutic molecules that can interfere with these proteins, thus reducing viral gene expression, replication and spread within an infected patient and between individuals. Taken together, our studies may identify new therapies to combat adenovirus-induced disease, thereby reducing the burden of this virus on society in terms of medical costs, loss of work hours and, in some population, loss of life.