RNA is a central molecule for the RNA virus life cycle as it functions not only as messenger for the synthesis of proteins, but also as storage of genetic information as genome. Given the central role of viral RNAs in infection, I hypothesised that it must be a hub for critical host-virus interactions. To test this, my laboratory has developed new approaches to elucidate the composition of viral ribonucleoproteins using Sindbis virus, SARS-CoV-2 and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as discovery models. With them, we have discovered a new universe of host-virus interactions with central regulatory roles in infection. Interestingly, these viruses, despite having different sequences and infection cycles, engage with a largely shared pool of cellular RNA-binding proteins. The efforts of my laboratory are now focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms underpinning these master regulators of virus infection, as we envision that they are promising targets for broad-spectrum antiviral therapies.
12/05/2022 11 am Alfredo Castello MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research (UK)