How a small RNA segment controls hepatitis C virus behavior
Official title: Uncovering the Biochemical Mechanisms of Riboregulatory Interaction Involving the Hepatitis C Virus 3'X RNA
Funded at University of Kansas Lawrence · NIH-11172628 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how a tiny, non‑coding piece of the hepatitis C virus's genetic material helps the virus replicate and form particles, which matters to people with hepatitis C.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kansas Lawrence NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lawrence, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $376,483 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM154858-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11172628 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People living with hepatitis C could be relevant partners if the researchers collect patient-derived viral samples, but the project is primarily laboratory-based rather than recruiting for a clinical treatment trial.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without hepatitis C or those needing immediate medical treatment are unlikely to receive direct clinical benefit from this basic science project.
What this research studies
Researchers will focus on the 3'X RNA, a short but essential section at the end of the hepatitis C virus genome that does not code for protein but appears to regulate viral processes. They will map how the 3'X RNA pairs with other conserved viral RNA segments and measure the structures, binding energies, and reaction speeds of those interactions. The team will use biochemical and biophysical lab techniques to determine which RNA-RNA contacts form under different conditions. The work aims to reveal the core physical rules that control these riboregulatory switches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new molecular targets or strategies to block hepatitis C replication, helping to guide future antiviral therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Related biochemical and structural studies of viral RNAs have clarified regulatory mechanisms in other viruses, but the specific 3'X interactions in hepatitis C remain incompletely understood.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Kansas Lawrence
Lawrence, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Holmstrom, Erik D — University of Kansas Lawrence
- Study coordinator: Holmstrom, Erik D
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.