How virus spike proteins change shape to enter cells
Official title: The role of conformational dynamics of enveloped virus spike proteins in cell entry
Funded at University of Texas Hlth Ctr at Tyler · NIH-11171728 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Scientists are looking at how the spike proteins on viruses like SARS‑CoV‑2 change shape to help the virus enter human cells, which could guide better vaccines and treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Ctr at Tyler NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tyler, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $372,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM151169-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11171728 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This is a laboratory-based project that does not enroll patients for participation.
✕Less likely to help
People with acute infections are unlikely to receive direct clinical benefit from this basic research in the short term.
What this research studies
From my point of view, researchers will study the detailed shape changes of spike proteins that sit on the surface of enveloped viruses such as SARS‑CoV‑2, RSV, and HIV‑1. They will use time-resolved structural and biophysical techniques in the lab to watch the order and frequency of conformational events during membrane fusion. The team plans to integrate those observations into a general model of how type‑I fusion spikes drive virus entry. This work builds on their prior experiments probing spike dynamics and aims to connect individual structural snapshots into a continuous sequence of events.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help scientists design vaccines and antiviral drugs that better block virus entry into cells.
How similar studies have gone: Related structural studies of the SARS‑CoV‑2 spike have informed vaccine development, but detailed time-resolved dynamics remain less explored.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Hlth Ctr at Tyler
Tyler, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lu, Maolin — University of Texas Hlth Ctr at Tyler
- Study coordinator: Lu, Maolin
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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.