Studies of hepacivirus morphogenesis. [ 2005 - 2007 ]

Research Grant

Researchers: Peter Gage (Principal investigator) ,  Dr Gholamreza Haqshenas ,  Prof Eric Gowans

Brief description Hepatitis C virus is a major medical problem in Australia and many other parts of the world. The viruses causes a persistent infection in most infected individuals that results in serious liver disease and liver cancer in a proportion of patients. Treatment is only possible for a small percentage of patients and many patients are infected with viruses which are resistant to the best contemporary treatment regimens. The aim of this project is to develop systems which will result in the assembly of virus particles which can be used to examine the efficacy of potential antiviral agents, either in the test tube or by infecting an animal model. In particular, we will examine the contribution of a small viral protein, p7, on virus assembly and secretion from the infected cell. Recent data suggests that p7 can function to help release virus from the infected cell and a number of inhibitors of p7 function have been described. We will then use the systems which we develop to determine if these inhibitors can inhibit virus replication in the test tube and in animal models.

Funding Amount $AUD 480,750.00

Funding Scheme NHMRC Project Grants

Notes Standard Project Grant