How Ebola and related viruses interact with human cells
Biochemical and structural mechanisms at the filoviral-host interface
Researchers are mapping how Ebola and similar viruses grab and hijack human cell machinery to help guide better treatments and vaccines for people affected by these infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11090527 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my perspective, scientists will look at the physical connections between viral proteins and human proteins to see how these viruses block immune responses and build infectious particles. They will use lab approaches like mass spectrometry, NMR, X-ray crystallography, small-angle X-ray scattering, cryo-EM, and cryo-electron tomography to define these molecular interactions and structures. Work will include biochemical experiments with proteins and cellular systems to validate the most important host-virus contacts. The goal is to reveal targets that drug or vaccine developers could use to stop infection or reduce disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People at risk for or recovering from filovirus infections, or those in outbreak regions, could be candidates for future sample-donation efforts or clinical studies informed by this research.
Not a fit: Patients with unrelated conditions or those needing immediate clinical care are unlikely to get direct benefit from this basic laboratory research in the short term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new antiviral drugs, improved vaccines, or diagnostics that reduce illness from Ebola and related filoviruses.
How similar studies have performed: Related structural and biochemical studies have helped produce effective Ebola vaccines and some therapeutics, but many specific host-virus interactions targeted here are still novel and not yet tested clinically.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Amarasinghe, Gaya K. — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Amarasinghe, Gaya K.
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.