How viruses read cell signals through protein tags
Viral Biosensors of Host Post-Translational Modifications
Researchers are looking at how viruses use chemical tags added by our cells to control when they grow and spread, which could lead to new antiviral approaches for people with viral infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11203894 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project will map chemical tags (called post-translational modifications or PTMs) that host cells add to viral proteins and find how those tags change viral behavior. Scientists will use lab experiments, including mass spectrometry and infected cell models, to identify which PTMs appear at different stages of the viral life cycle. They will test how changing those tags affects virus replication, assembly, and release. By revealing viral 'sensors' that read host signals, the work aims to point to weak spots that drugs might later target.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People affected by or at risk for alphavirus infections or related respiratory viruses could be future beneficiaries and possible candidates for therapies developed from this research.
Not a fit: Patients needing immediate clinical treatment or those with non-viral conditions are unlikely to see direct benefits in the short term from this basic lab research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal new targets for antiviral drugs that block viruses from sensing and adapting to host cells.
How similar studies have performed: Mapping protein modifications with mass spectrometry is an established lab method, but using host-driven PTMs as actionable antiviral targets is a newer and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- University of California Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bouhaddou, Mehdi — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Bouhaddou, Mehdi
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.