The functional role of cyclophilins and the effect of cyclophilin inhibitors in coronavirus infection

The aim of this project is to investigate the molecular role of cyclophilins in virus replication, to develop cyclophilin inhibitors that block SARS-CoV2 and other human and animal coronaviruses in vitro. In particular, we will investigate (i) whether and how SARS-CoV2 proteins interact with cyclophilins, (ii) the effect of these interactions on viral replication and the innate and adaptive immune response, (iii) the molecular mechanisms and cellular pathways involved in them, (iv) whether more potent, non-immunosuppressive cyclophilin inhibitors can be identified that block SARS-CoV2, other coronaviruses and members of other virus families. This multi-disciplinary project involves a broad range of different cutting-edge molecular, cellular, biochemical and biophysical technologies including for example siRNA knockdown, CRISPR gene editing and SPR.