Peptides targeting the fusion peptides of enveloped viral pathogens (A05)

• Subject Area: Virology ; Preparatory and Physical Chemistry of Polymers
• Term: since 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 316249678

Fusion peptides (FPs) are critical for infection by most enveloped viral pathogens. Members of the CRC previously discovered a fragment of 1-antitrypsin (VIRIP) that targets the gp41 FP of HIV-1 and showed that an optimized derivate was effective in a clinical trial. In the 1st funding period, it was shown that VIRIP-based inhibitors have a high genetic barrier to resistance and can be packaged or modified to increase bioavailability. Goals of the 2nd funding period are to further improve VIRIP-based FP inhibitors and to determine their safety and efficacy in animal models. In addition, various assays were established that will allow to discover novel inhibitors and to better define entry mechanisms of viral pathogens including SARS-CoV-2.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1279: Exploiting the Human Peptidome for Novel Antimicrobial and Anticancer Agents
• Applicant Institution: Universität Ulm
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Frank Kirchhoff; Professorin Dr. Tanja Weil