How rotavirus spreads between gut cells
Mechanisms of VP4 Promoting Rotavirus Cell-to-Cell Transmission and Viral Pathogenesis
This project looks into how a rotavirus protein called VP4 helps the virus move directly from one intestinal cell to another, with the goal of helping protect children and other people at risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11270637 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will work with intestinal epithelial cells grown in the lab to map which human proteins bind to the viral VP4 protein using proteomics. They will use CRISPR/Cas9 to knock out parts of the cell's Arp2/3 actin machinery and apply chemical inhibitors to see whether removing or blocking these components stops direct cell-to-cell spread. The team will measure how well the virus spreads and how much damage it causes to understand how VP4 and the cell cytoskeleton drive disease. These lab findings could point to new antiviral targets or strategies to improve vaccine protection for children and other vulnerable groups.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children under 5, older adults, and immunocompromised people who get rotavirus are the groups most likely to benefit and could be candidates for future clinical studies based on these findings.
Not a fit: People with non-rotavirus causes of diarrhea or unrelated health conditions would not directly benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new targets for antiviral drugs or vaccine improvements that reduce rotavirus illness in children and vulnerable adults.
How similar studies have performed: Some prior lab studies have linked rotavirus proteins to the cell's actin machinery, but direct cell-to-cell spread for enteric viruses like rotavirus is a relatively new and underexplored idea.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ding, Siyuan — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Ding, Siyuan
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.