How parainfluenza virus copies its genetic code
Mechanism of parainfluenza virus genome replication
['FUNDING_R01'] · BOSTON UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CAMPUS · NIH-11291879
This project will find out how parainfluenza virus copies its genome so people with parainfluenza respiratory infections can benefit from better treatments.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | BOSTON UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CAMPUS (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (BOSTON, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11291879 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you or a loved one get parainfluenza, researchers here are studying the viral machinery that copies the virus's RNA. They focus on the polymerase proteins called L and P and how those proteins pair up (dimerize) during copying. The team will use structure-guided laboratory experiments, biochemical assays, and cell-based tests to see how changes in the polymerase alter production of viral mRNA versus new viral genomes. The findings aim to point to specific steps the virus needs that could be blocked by future drugs.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who have had or currently have parainfluenza respiratory infections, or those willing to provide clinical samples related to such infections, would be the most relevant participants.
Not a fit: Patients without parainfluenza or with unrelated health conditions are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic laboratory-focused project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal specific viral steps to target with antivirals, improving prevention or treatment of parainfluenza respiratory infections.
How similar studies have performed: Previous structural and biochemical studies of viral polymerases have guided antiviral design, but the specific role of L-P dimerization in HPIV-3 replication is a relatively new finding and remains early-stage.
Where this research is happening
BOSTON, UNITED STATES
- BOSTON UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CAMPUS — BOSTON, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: FEARNS, RACHEL — BOSTON UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CAMPUS
- Study coordinator: FEARNS, RACHEL
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.