Objective Identification of the full complement of genes and other functional elements in any virus is crucial to fully understand its molecular biology and guide the development of effective control strategies. Our recent discoveries of new 'hidden' genes in the potyviruses, alphaviruses, arteriviruses, flaviviruses and influenza A virus have demonstrated that, even in the most well-studied and economically-important viruses, small overlapping genes can remain undetected throughout decades of research. Comparative computational analyses can be used to efficiently identify hidden features and target experimental analyses, thus saving time and cost, and minimizing animal experiments. With the rapid increase in sequencing data, for the first time it is now possible to map out at high resolution functional elements genome-wide in hundreds of important virus species.Our research involves the development of powerful new tools for virus comparative genomics, and the application of these tools to uncover hidden genes and other functional elements in RNA virus and retrovirus genomes. Hidden genes are often translated via non-canonical mechanisms, such as programmed ribosomal frameshifting, and we are particularly interested in discovering and characterizing new types of non-canonical translation. Deciphering these 'exceptions-to-the-rule' enhances our understanding of the mechanics of protein synthesis. Further, these novel mechanisms may also be relevant to cellular gene expression.The goals of this project are:1) To computationally identify all 'hidden' genes and major functional non-coding elements in the genomes of RNA viruses and retroviruses of medical, veterinary and agricultural importance.2) To experimentally characterize the most interesting new features.3) To characterize novel translation mechanisms utilized by RNA viruses.4) To develop web interfaces to our software and an interactive RNA virus comparative genomics database. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologyvirologymedical and health scienceshealth sciencesinfectious diseasesRNA virusesebolamedical and health scienceshealth sciencesinfectious diseasesRNA virusesinfluenzanatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsRNAmedical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacypharmaceutical drugsantivirals Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-CoG-2014 - ERC Consolidator Grant Call for proposal ERC-2014-CoG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant Host institution THE CHANCELLOR MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE Net EU contribution € 1 780 000,00 Address TRINITY LANE THE OLD SCHOOLS CB2 1TN Cambridge United Kingdom See on map Region East of England East Anglia Cambridgeshire CC Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 1 780 000,00 Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all THE CHANCELLOR MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE United Kingdom Net EU contribution € 1 780 000,00 Address TRINITY LANE THE OLD SCHOOLS CB2 1TN Cambridge See on map Region East of England East Anglia Cambridgeshire CC Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 1 780 000,00