Targeting Virus Assembly to Inhibit SARS-CoV-2 Infection and COVID-19 Disease

In order for the SARS-CoV-2 to infect humans and cause COVID-19 disease, it must be able to produce more progeny viruses in the infected cells. This process of viral assembly depends on coordinated interactions between the different viral proteins.

Since this is an important process that is required for viral infection and disease pathogenesis, Postdoctoral Associate Md. Mizanur Rahman, MS, PhD, in the laboratory of Hinh Ly, MA, PhD, and Yuying Liang, MS, PhD, hypothesizes that disrupting the essential viral protein-protein interactions with antiviral drugs presents a tremendous opportunity to cripple virus replication in order to ameliorate COVID-19.

This project is supported by the UMN Campus Public Health Officer's CO:VID (Collaborative Outcomes: Visionary Innovation & Discovery) grants program, which support University of Minnesota faculty to catalyze and energize small-scale research projects designed to address and mitigate the COVID-19 virus and its associated risks.