Establishing the host and viral factors shaping RBP binding in viral infection

RNA viruses are an important group of pathogens responsible for many human, animal and plant diseases. During a virus' lifecycle, which takes place almost entirely within a host cell, the viral genome will interact with host RNAbinding proteins (RBPs). Some of these proteins are co-opted by the virus to promote infection, while others are involved in the host's antiviral immune response. It has become clear in recent years that many more host proteins are interacting with viral RNA than was previously realised. There is very little known about how and why most of these interactions take place but it is possible that some of them might be important in innate immunity, or represent targets for antiviral drug development. The purpose of this DPhil is to unpick the host and viral factors determining which RBPs are binding to viral RNA, and to use this information to establish what the functions of some of these RBPs might be.