Understanding how RNA viruses make their proteins
Official title: Structural and mechanistic studies of cap-independent genome translation in (+)-strand RNA viruses
Funded at University of Maryland Baltimore County · NIH-11171434 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to discover how certain viruses, like those causing animal diseases, create their essential proteins by taking over a cell's machinery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Maryland Baltimore County NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | August 10, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $348,041 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM150869-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11171434 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research does not involve direct patient participation, but future studies building on this work might seek individuals affected by related viral infections.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking immediate treatment or direct clinical intervention will not find direct benefit from this basic science project.
What this research studies
This project looks closely at how specific RNA viruses, including those that cause diseases in animals, manage to produce their proteins. These viruses use unique parts of their genetic material, called IRESs and 3'CITEs, to trick the host cell's protein-making machinery. We are using advanced imaging techniques, like X-ray crystallography, to create detailed 3D pictures of these viral RNA structures. By understanding these structures and how they interact with the cell, we hope to learn how these viruses multiply.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this basic understanding could lead to new ways to stop these viruses from reproducing, potentially informing the development of antiviral treatments for related human or animal diseases.
How similar studies have gone: While the general approach of studying viral RNA structures is established, this project aims to provide novel 3D structural information for specific viral IRESs and 3'CITEs, building on the PI's prior success in developing crystallization techniques.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Maryland Baltimore County
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Koirala, Deepak — University of Maryland Baltimore County
- Study coordinator: Koirala, Deepak
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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.