How a Zika protein shuts down the body's antiviral response
Zika virus nonstructural protein 5 inhibition of interferon signaling
Researchers are mapping how a Zika virus protein disables the body's interferon immune signal to help guide new antiviral drugs and safer weakened vaccines for people at risk of Zika infection.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11143045 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Scientists will make and test every single-amino-acid version of the Zika virus NS5 protein to see which changes stop it from blocking interferon, the body's early antiviral signal. They will use deep mutational scanning and CRISPR-based screens in cells and animal models to map how each viral change affects the interaction with the human STAT2 protein. Results will be compared across related flaviviruses like dengue and yellow fever to find shared weak points. The team aims to pinpoint precise viral and host targets that could be used to design antiviral medicines or attenuated vaccines.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People at risk for Zika infection—such as travelers to endemic areas or pregnant people—would be the likely eventual candidates for antivirals or vaccines developed from this work.
Not a fit: People not exposed to Zika or those with illnesses unrelated to flaviviruses are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal targets for drugs that restore antiviral signaling or guide design of safer, weakened vaccines against Zika and related flaviviruses.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have shown flavivirus NS5 proteins block STAT2 and that modifying NS5 can attenuate viruses, but this comprehensive single-amino-acid mapping approach is novel and more extensive.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Evans, Matthew J — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Evans, Matthew J
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 below.