How the cell's ubiquitin system helps SARS-CoV-2 multiply and cause disease
The Role of the Host Ubiquitin System in Promoting SARS-CoV-2 replication and Pathogenesis
This work will look at how a cell's ubiquitin system helps SARS-CoV-2 enter cells and copy itself, with the goal of guiding new antiviral approaches.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11168824 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You might want to know that researchers will look inside cells to see how the host's ubiquitin system helps SARS-CoV-2 attach, enter, and replicate. They will compare different virus variants and study molecular steps where ubiquitin marks proteins to promote infection, using lab-grown cells and molecular assays. The team will test whether blocking specific ubiquitination steps lowers virus entry or replication, and use that information to predict which mutations may increase transmissibility or immune escape. The long-term goal is to point to antiviral targets that could be developed into drugs or therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with COVID-19, those recently exposed, or individuals at high risk of infection could be future candidates for therapies developed from this research.
Not a fit: Patients with conditions unrelated to SARS-CoV-2 or those needing immediate clinical care are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic lab research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new drug targets that block virus entry or replication and help prevent or treat COVID-19.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work showed ubiquitination enhances attachment for other viruses and early studies suggest similar mechanisms for SARS-CoV-2, but translating these findings into approved treatments is still unproven.
Where this research is happening
Newark, UNITED STATES
- Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences — Newark, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rajsbaum, Ricardo — Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Rajsbaum, Ricardo
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.