How coronaviruses infect and change lung cells
Project 2 - Ex Vivo Analysis of Coronavirus Tropism, Adaptation, Replication, and Host Response
This project uses lab-grown human and bat lung cells plus advanced molecular tests to map how coronaviruses infect, adapt, and cause damage so scientists can find new ways to stop severe COVID-19 and related infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| 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-11247116 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will expose lab-grown human lung cells (including cells made from stem cells and a standard lung cell line) and bat lung cells to SARS-CoV-2 and related coronaviruses and then measure many molecular changes. They will use proteomics, RNA sequencing, epigenetic assays (including ATAC-seq, Hi-C, and ChIP-seq) and genetic and drug screens to find host proteins and pathways the virus uses. Those laboratory data will be combined with patient and animal data from a linked project and analyzed with network-based models to identify 'driver' genes that control infection severity. The team aims to use these findings to point to possible host-targeted antiviral therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who have had or are at risk of COVID-19 and who are willing to provide respiratory samples or join related Mount Sinai clinical studies would be ideal candidates to contribute.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment for active COVID-19 or those without coronavirus exposure are unlikely to receive direct, immediate benefit from the lab-focused parts of this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new host-targeted antiviral strategies that reduce viral replication and severe disease from COVID-19 and related coronaviruses.
How similar studies have performed: Similar omics and lab-based approaches have identified host factors used by coronaviruses before, but translating those findings into approved treatments has been limited so far.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Garcia-Sastre, Adolfo — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Garcia-Sastre, Adolfo
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.