| title: | Mechanisms involved in the Semliki Forest virus replication and virus-host interactions: basic studies and potential use for gene technology. |
|---|---|
| reg no: | ETF6609 |
| project type: | Estonian Science Foundation research grant |
| subject: |
1.8. Molecular Biology 2.7. Biotechnology, Food and Drink Technology 3.1. Basic Medicine |
| status: | accepted |
| institution: | TU Faculty of Biology and Geography |
| head of project: | Andres Merits |
| duration: | 01.01.2006 - 31.12.2007 |
| description: | Semliki Forest virus (SFV) belongs to the genus Alphavirus and has been used as a model in virology and cell biology. The proposed research represents an important step towards understanding how basic molecular processes, involved in virus replication, lead to virus-induced pathology. The mechanisms of SFV replicase complex formation, induction of ER-stress, host cell metabolism shutdown and apoptosis, as well as connections between these processes will be studied. Search and characterization of cellular targets for SFV encoded proteins, especially nsP1 and nsP2 , will also be performed. At the organism level, we plan to study the pathway of infection by using SFV genomes carrying a novel type of marker gene and by constructing a novel SFV responsive reporter systems. Specific attention will be dedicated to studies of SFV interactions with cells, which are resistant to productive infection and with cells, where SFV establishes persistent infection. The obtained information will be used for rational design and construction of the new generation of improved SFV based gene expression systems. The possibilities of the use of these systems for gene vaccination and for anti-cancer therapy will be evaluated in preliminary experiments. |
| project group | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| no | name | institution | position | |
| 1. | Kaja Kiiver | |||
| 2. | Aleksei Lulla | |||
| 3. | Andres Merits | Tartu Ülikool | ||
| 4. | Inga Sarand | |||
| 5. | Valeria Sizemskaja | |||
| 6. | Eva Žusinaite | |||
| 7. | Ingrid Tagen | |||
| 8. | Kairit Tints | |||