Comparative Virology - Understanding How Picornaviruses Replicate.

This project initially focuses on foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV), the causative agent of foot and mouth disease that infects cows and other cloven-hoofed animals. Specifically, the project will use FMDV sub-genomic replicons, mini-viral genomes expressing GFP in place of the viral structural proteins. These genomes allow for viral replication to be monitored in the absence of virion production and permit the molecular determinants of viral RNA replication to be investigated in isolation.

Using this system, we have recently conducted a proteomic screen of potential host factors involved in FMDV replication. To begin, the project will validate these targets from the proteomic screen against FMDV replication. This will be combined with data from genomic-wide CRIPSR screens available via collaborations, to identify proteins that are essential for FMDV replication (both pro- and anti-viral).

As the project progresses, the importance of these proteins for the replication of other viruses in the picornavirus family (and potentially beyond) will be investigated to identify conserved and viral specific host protein requirements. This work can be expanded to look at a range of host cell types to identify determinants of host-specific of viral replication.