Grant: DRA : Canada Graduate Research Scholarship - Doctoral Program (CGRS D)

Cells rely on complex machinery and proteins to start making proteins from their genetic messages, a process known as translation. However, some viruses have evolved a shortcut using special RNA elements called internal ribosome entry sites (IRESs), which can hijack the host's translation machinery more efficiently and with less parts (factors). My research focuses on discovering and understanding these "factorless" IRESs, found in thousands of newly identified virus genomes. Using a combination of bioinformatics, molecular biology, and mass spectrometry, I aim to uncover how these elements work and develop new tools to identify others like them. This work will deepen our understanding of how viruses bypass normal cellular controls and could provide benefits to understanding viral infection.