# Human parainfluenza virus fusion complexglycoproteins imaged in action

> **NIH NIH F32** · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2021 · $69,090

## Abstract

Project Summary
Infection by human parainfluenza viruses (HPIVs) causes important lower respiratory diseases including croup,
bronchiolitis and pneumonia, that lead to illness or death in millions of infants and young children worldwide.
There are no vaccines or effective treatments. During viral entry, the first step of infection, the viral fusion complex
– comprised of the surface glycoproteins HN (receptor-binding protein; hemagglutinin-neuraminidase) and F
(fusion protein) – mediates fusion upon receptor binding. HN triggers F to undergo conformational
rearrangements that promote viral entry, and these key steps are not understood. The overall goal of this
proposal is to capture serial intermediate states of the HPIV3 HN-F fusion complex in native state during
activation and examine the fusion mechanism using cryo-electron tomography (ET). Cryo-ET will provide direct
structural evidence related to our proposed mechanisms of action of the glycoprotein complex during viral entry.
Aim 1 will focus on HN’s protective role in preventing premature activation of F-mediated fusion, using cryo-ET
to compare HN-F specific complexes (1.1) and small molecules that interact with HN and induce it to activate F
(1.2). In aim 2, we will capture and visualize the structural rearrangements in the HN-F fusion complex during
serial stages of the fusion process. Execution of these aims along with the training as outlined will prepare me
to advance my field in a fashion that applies structural biology methods to important mechanistic questions in
virology.
I expect to characterize in unprecedented detail how HN triggers F-mediated fusion for HPIV3 and provide clear
answers about the process of viral fusion that have been central and puzzling – while at the same time leading
to development of cutting-edge methods in cryo-ET. Using this approach, it will be possible not only to test
hypotheses that attempt to simplify the nature of the HN-F relationship, but to examine the fusion complex at
specific intermediate points in time in native, authentic configurations as they exist on the virus. Our experiments
will explain how the necessary intermediates form, and the mechanistic data gleaned from our results can then
guide antiviral strategies, as this understanding is a prerequisite for developing ways to disable the fusion/entry
phase of infection. The project is innovative in both technical and conceptual aspects and thus provides an ideal
training vehicle for me to develop into a rigorous and creative independent scientist.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10139842
- **Project number:** 1F32AI152275-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** Tara Marcink
- **Activity code:** F32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $69,090
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-12-15 → 2023-12-14

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10139842

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10139842, Human parainfluenza virus fusion complexglycoproteins imaged in action (1F32AI152275-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10139842. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*