Understanding how Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis enters cells
LDLRAD3 Receptor Interaction with Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus
We are learning how the Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis virus gets into human cells, hoping to find new ways to stop this serious infection.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11117015 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis virus (VEEV) is a serious mosquito-borne illness that can cause severe brain disease in people, and currently, there are no specific treatments or vaccines. Our team recently discovered a molecule on the surface of human cells, called LDLRAD3, that the VEEV uses to enter and infect cells. We believe that by understanding exactly how VEEV uses LDLRAD3, we can develop new medicines to block the virus from getting into cells. This work involves studying the virus and the cell molecule in detail to see how they connect and cause disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients who could potentially benefit from future treatments developed from this research are those at risk of or infected with Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis virus.
Not a fit: Patients with conditions unrelated to Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis virus infection would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to the development of the first antiviral drugs or vaccines to prevent or treat Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis virus infections.
How similar studies have performed: Currently, there are no approved antiviral agents or licensed vaccines for alphavirus infections, making this a novel and critical area of investigation.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Diamond, Michael S — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Diamond, Michael S
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.