The Viral Infection Structural Proteomics (VISP) Center is working with the viral pathogen community to structurally characterize and understand critical virus and host proteins and their functional interactions using high throughput structural biology technologies and to provide the information rapidly back to the scientific community.
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus
The goal of the Center for Functional and Structural Proteomics of SARS-CoV related proteins (FSPS) is to provide a comprehensive characterized catalogue of all the SARS-CoV related proteins and associated functions at the viral and host levels to enable the development of therapeutic interventions. The Center for Functional and Structural Proteomics of SARS CoV related proteins (FSPS) is supported by NIH/NIAID as a Proteomics Resource Center through Contract #HHS266200400058C.
Influenza virus
The goal of this effort is to understand infectivity and specificity of the influenza virus and to determine structures of proteins (and/or their constituent domains) that are involved in viral replication and host response.
Human Herpesvirus 8
The goal here is to study the structures of HHV8 proteins and their interactions with host ligands and to generate therapeutic targets and accelerate understanding of Kaposi's Sarcoma Herpesvirus biology and effective anti-viral and/or anti-tumor drug design.
Flaviviruses
The goal here is to determine the structures of flavivirus proteins, host proteins involved in viral replication and host proteins that modulate entry and the immune response. This knowledge would inform the biology of these viruses and also guide the development of vaccines and anti-virals.
Poxviruses
Poxviruses cause emerging infectious diseases and are potential bioterrorism agents. The goal is to determine the structures of poxvirus proteins that are involved in viral entry, assembly and replication, towards the development of prophylactics and therapeutics.