How the body's first-line immune defenses block human coronaviruses
Innate immune factors governing restriction of human coronaviruses
This work looks at which early immune defenses and antiviral genes help stop SARS-CoV-2 and the coronaviruses that cause common colds.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11402147 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will compare the body's innate immune responses to severe coronaviruses like SARS-CoV-2 and milder, endemic human coronaviruses to find differences that affect illness severity. They will focus on interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs), testing which ones can block coronavirus replication using laboratory models and human-derived samples. Lab experiments will activate or remove candidate ISGs in cells to see how each gene changes viral growth. The team aims to map which early immune factors protect cells so this knowledge can guide new antiviral approaches.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be people willing to donate blood or nasal/respiratory samples, particularly those recently infected with SARS-CoV-2 or other human coronaviruses.
Not a fit: People who are not able or willing to provide samples, or whose health needs are unrelated to coronavirus infection, are unlikely to receive direct benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to new targets for antiviral drugs or therapies that strengthen early immune defenses against coronaviruses.
How similar studies have performed: Previous high-throughput screens have identified antiviral ISGs against SARS-CoV-2 but results have varied and the activity of these genes against common endemic coronaviruses remains underexplored.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stoddard, Caitlin — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Stoddard, Caitlin
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.