Rolle der Glykoproteine bei der Infektion von Endothelzellen durch das Nipahvirus

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Andrea Susanne Maisner
• Subject Area: Virology
• Term: from 2002 to 2012
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5388966

Nipah virus (NV), a recently emerged paramyxovirus, infects via the respiratory tract and establish a pantropic infection finally leading to fatal encephalitis. Histological data from infected humans revealed that virus replication is confined to endothelial cells, predominantly to those in the CNS. Such a clear endotheliotropism is not known for any other pantropic paramyxovirus and is likely to be controlled by multiple virus and host factors. Since viral glycoproteins are major determinants for host cell tropism this project focuses on the role of the NV surface glycoproteins G and F for productive replication in and further spread from endothelia. In the first part, importance of F protein cleavage and fusion activation by host cell or serum proteases for cell tropism will be determined. In the second part, polarity of NV budding and distribution of NV glycoproteins on the surface of endothelial cells will be studied to elucidate the way how NV cross the endothelial barrier in the CNS leading to infection of brain parenchyma cells.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1130: Infections of the Endothelium