Project description
Characterising early viral infection
Viruses propagate differently in different cells and tissues after their initial entry into their hosts. What happens at the earliest stages of cellular infection is not known due to the technical challenges of detecting and analysing such a small viral load. Building on its recent development of a pioneering imaging technology for simple positive-sense single-stranded RNA viruses, the EU-funded VirIm project will expand capabilities for the more complex group of negative-sense RNA viruses. Focusing on the respiratory syncytial virus that can be deadly in infants and vulnerable adults and lacks effective treatment, the team’s enhanced understanding of early viral propagation and its impact will pave the way to effective therapies.
Objective
Viruses are simple replicative units built from two components: a nucleic acid and a small number of associated proteins. Upon entering a cell, viruses co-opt the hosts machineries to copy their genetic material, while shutting down the hosts antiviral immune response. The success of viral infection differs dramatically from cell to cell through poorly understood mechanisms, resulting in heterogenous propagation through tissues, and ultimately, heterogeneous disease progression.
Although viruses have been studied for decades, the earliest steps of cellular infection have remained hidden, because only a few viral molecules are present at this stage, which presents formidable challenges for molecular analyses. Yet these initial events are critical for achieving a successful infection; transcription, translation and replication must be perfectly balanced to rapidly scale virus production before antiviral signalling pathways are activated. To overcome this barrier, we recently developed a first-in-kind imaging technology for simple positive-sense single stranded RNA (+ssRNA) viruses that transforms our ability to visualize early viral infection processes.
In this proposal, we will expand our single–molecule toolbox to gain molecular insights into early viral infection of the more complex group of negative-sense RNA (-ssRNA) viruses. We will focus on the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a -ssRNA virus which can be deadly in infants and vulnerable adults, and lacks effective treatments. Specifically, we will determine i) how viral transcription and replication are coordinated on single viral genomic RNA molecules to optimize early viral propagation, ii) what causes the early viral infection heterogeneity, and iii) how heterogeneity in early viral infection impacts infection outcome. Using our novel approaches, we will gain a deep understanding of viral biology, which will eventually inform therapeutic interventions.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been validated by the project's team.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been validated by the project's team.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2021-COG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
1011 JV AMSTERDAM
Netherlands
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