How non-polio enteroviruses build their outer shell
Understanding the fundamental enterovirus capsid assembly and maturation pathway.
Researchers are learning how non-polio enteroviruses build and mature their protective shell so we can better prevent illnesses like hand, foot and mouth disease and flaccid myelitis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Leeds NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (England, UNITED KINGDOM) |
| Project ID | NIH-11285159 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Scientists are examining how enterovirus proteins are cut and put together to form the virus's protective shell, focusing on the short-lived 'provion' step when the shell finalizes. They use laboratory experiments, biochemical assays, and structural techniques to watch how pieces called VP0, VP3 and VP1 assemble and how VP0 is cleaved into VP4 and VP2. By describing these steps in detail the team aims to find weak points in the virus life cycle that could be targeted by drugs or vaccines. The work is conducted in the lab at the University of Leeds and does not enroll patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People affected by non-polio enterovirus infections—such as those with hand, foot and mouth disease, flaccid myelitis, or encephalitis—are most directly connected to the goals of this work, although the project itself is lab-based and does not enroll participants.
Not a fit: Patients with unrelated conditions or those needing immediate clinical care should not expect direct benefit from this laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal vulnerable steps in virus assembly that lead to new antivirals or vaccine strategies against non-polio enteroviruses.
How similar studies have performed: Related biochemical and structural studies have identified antiviral targets for other viruses, but the provion stage and VP0 cleavage in non-polio enteroviruses remain poorly understood.
Where this research is happening
England, UNITED KINGDOM
- University of Leeds — England, United Kingdom (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stonehouse, Nicola J — University of Leeds
- Study coordinator: Stonehouse, Nicola 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.