With the support of a new grant from the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, Michigan State University researchers are looking to better understand a viral mechanism shared between influenza and HIV with the aim of disrupting infection. This research could help develop effective vaccines for both diseases, as well as new antivirals.
Led by the MSU Department of Chemistry’s Professor David Weliky, the ongoing project targets a crucial process known as viral fusion, which occurs when the membranes of a virus and a host cell join together, allowing that virus’ genetic cargo to slip inside and begin replicating.
“Understanding this process could reveal new ways to interrupt infection, such as vaccines and antiviral drugs that block a virus before it can enter a cell,” graduate student Tahmina Khatun added.