Morbillivirus Intra- and Inter-Host Dynamics and Genetic Plasticity (B09*)

• Subject Area: Virology
• Term: from 2017 to 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 197785619

This project aims at characterizing the role of genetic plasticity in Morbillivirus pathogenesis by determining the contribution of de novo mutations and re-emergence of minor populations, and assessing the quasispecies changes and viral fitness in the presence of antiviral therapy. Towards this, we use canine distemper virus as a model system, which causes a lethal disease in ferrets, since we observed distinct differences between virus inoculum and populations in target tissues at the end stages of infection.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1021: RNA Viruses: RNA Metabolism, Host Response and Pathogenesis
• Applicant Institution: Philipps-Universität Marburg
• Co-Applicant Institution: Paul-Ehrlich-Institut; Bundesinstitut für Impfstoffe und biomedizinische Arzneimittel
• Project Head: Professorin Dr. Veronika von Messling