Structural glycobiology of interactions between viruses and bacteriall polysaccharides

• Applicant: Dr. Ursula Neu
• Subject Area: Virology
• Term: from 2015 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 278736229

In order to infect their mammalian hosts, enteric viruses need to navigate the densely populated microbial environment in the gut. Commensal gut microbiota are important for the function of the gut immune system, but recent reports indicate that enteric viruses rely on gut microbiota for enhanced infection and pathogenesis. Poliovirus, which is a significant human pathogen, interacts directly with bacterial polysaccharides such as lipopolysaccharide. This interaction increases poliovirus infectivity by stabilizing the viral capsid against denaturation and by strengthening its interaction with its receptor on host cells. The proposed research will investigate the interaction of polioviruses by glycobiolocigal, biophysical and structural methods. The poliovirus binding epitope on bacterial carbohydrates will be mapped and crystal structures of poliovirus in complex with bacterial oligosaccharides will be solved. The results will elucidate a pathogenic mechanism of enteric viruses that is likely common among many viruses. In addition, they can serve as a platform to develop novel antiviral strategies.

• DFG Programme: Independent Junior Research Groups