Finding roadblocks to viral infection

REPIC: RSV Entry Pathway in Human Ciliated Airway Cells

Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) and Janssen Vaccines & Prevention B.V. have finished a research collaboration effort to improve the prevention of respiratory viral infections. During this research collaboration, novel host proteins involved in viral replication have been identified. More specifically, removing these proteins from the host cell (the cell being targeted by RSV) resulted in a complete blocking of the infection. These highly encouraging experimental outcomes have led to the design of a drug development program. The goal of this program is to develop small molecule drugs that inhibit the function of these proteins.

Furthermore, LUMC and Janssen Vaccines & Prevention B.V. have built an assay on genetically modified lung cells allowing to test new antiviral drugs in a highly sensitive manner. This assay will be taken along in the development of the drugs described in the previous paragraph.

Summary

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) follows a distinct attachment and entry pathway in the ciliated cell of the human lung. LUMC and Janssen would like to discover the proteins involved in this pathway to enable the development of novel vaccines.

Technology Readiness Level (TRL)

1 - 3

Time period

24 months

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