Understanding how filoviruses assemble and replicate
Official title: Filovirus nucleocapsid assembly, caught in the act, by in situ structural biology
Funded at La Jolla Institute for Immunology · NIH-11094896 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how filoviruses, which can cause serious illnesses, put themselves together and make copies of themselves inside infected cells, using special imaging techniques to better understand this process and help create new treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | La Jolla Institute for Immunology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $228,750 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI180801-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11094896 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals at risk of exposure to filoviruses, such as healthcare workers or those living in outbreak-prone areas.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not at risk of filovirus infections or those with existing antiviral treatments may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the assembly and replication processes of filoviruses, which are known to cause severe hemorrhagic fevers. By using advanced techniques like cryo-electron tomography, the researchers aim to visualize the structures of viral components as they form inside infected cells. This approach allows for a more accurate understanding of how the virus interacts with host cells and assembles its nucleocapsid, which is crucial for its lifecycle. The findings could guide the development of new antiviral therapies targeting these processes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of effective broad-spectrum antiviral agents against filoviruses, potentially saving lives during outbreaks.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has successfully utilized similar structural biology approaches to understand viral mechanisms, indicating a promising potential for this novel investigation.
Where this research is happening
-
La Jolla Institute for Immunology
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Saphire, Erica Ollmann — La Jolla Institute for Immunology
- Study coordinator: Saphire, Erica Ollmann
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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.