Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 isolates and functional studies of viral virulence in human lung organoids (A07*)

• Subject Area: Metabolism, Biochemistry and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Term: from 2018 to 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 114933180

Among the leading questions during the present epidemic is the differentiation of circulating viral strains. Studies to detect and functionally explain phenotypic differences in viral variants are extremely rare, and almost exclusively based on surrogate systems. In the present project, we characterize primary viral isolates using organoids from human lung tissue. We identify viral isolates that are likely to represent different viral phenotypes and create a laboratory pipeline to discriminate and isolate viral mutations expressed in phenotype. Additionally human organoids provide important insights into the molecular mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 driven epithelial pathology and are suitable as preclinical relevant models for testing therapeutics for COVID-19.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 84: Innate Immunity of the Lung: Mechanisms of Pathogen Attack and Host Defence in Pneumonia
• Applicant Institution: shared FU Berlin and HU Berlin through:; Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Christian Drosten; Dr. Katja Hönzke, since 7/2022; Dr. Katja Zscheppang, until 6/2022