Chemistry Colloquium | Blocking Filovirus Infection by targeting the Receptor-Binding Site and the glycans on the glycoproteins, Sept. 27

Dr. Shi-Hua Xiang

The Chemistry & Biochemistry Colloquium Series presents Dr. Shi-Hua Xiang discussing “Blocking Filovirus Infection by targeting the Receptor-Binding Site and the glycans on the glycoproteins” on Monday, Sept. 27 from 4:10 to 5:05 p.m. in Walter 235.

Xiang is associate professor in the Nebraska Center for Virology in the School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln.
Affiliation: University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Abstract: Filoviruses, mainly consisting of Ebola viruses (EBOV) and Marburg viruses (MARV), are enveloped negative-strand RNA viruses that can infect humans to cause severe hemorrhagic fevers and outbreaks with high mortality rates. The filovirus infection is mediated by the viral envelope glycoprotein (GP) and the human endosomal receptor Niemann-Pick C1 (NPC1). The glycoprotein is the only protein on the virion surface that is critical for virus infection. The viral surface glycoprotein is a trimeric structure and heavily glycosylated. To develop novel therapeutics against the virus infection, we are focusing on targeting the glycoprotein to block viral entry. Two major approaches under testing in the laboratory will be discussed. One is designing small molecule inhibitors targeting the receptor-binding site (RBS); and another is using a bacterial-based approach targeting the glycans on the glycoproteins.