Investigating non-coding RNA interactions impacting coronavirus infectivity and immune control

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Stephanie Pfänder
• Subject Area: Virology
• Term: since 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 518707518

Coronaviruses (CoV) have been shown to pose a global risk for the human population, exemplified by the emergence of highly pathogenic viruses, including SARS-CoV-2 causing the disease COVID-19. As obligate intracellular pathogens, viruses are utterly dependent on host cellular processes and exploring virus–host interactions is the key to understand mechanisms regulating the viral replicative cycle and pathological outcomes associated with an infection. This is an important requirement for the successful development of novel antiviral strategies to combat viral infections. Most of our knowledge of the virus-host interplay has been derived from protein-protein-interaction studies. However, recent advances in sequencing technology have recognized the importance of the so-called non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) during various cellular processes including virus-host interactions. Importantly, several studies reported differences in the expression of ncRNAs in the context of CoV infections. However, a functional assessment of these findings and molecular understanding with potential linkage to viral replication and pathogenesis are lacking. In the present project, I aim to investigate and functionally decipher the impact of ncRNA interactions on CoV infectivity and immune control. This project addresses a very timely-topic and has the potential to change current dogmas of virus-host interactions and open new avenues with respect to the interplay between viruses and their hosts. It offers the possibility of identifying key factors in viral replication and new treatment approaches for emerging CoV infections.

• DFG Programme: Independent Junior Research Groups