# Investigating virus-host interactions with prime editing and genetic code expansion

> **NIH NIH R21** · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $196,875

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Host proteins play essential roles in the replication of all viruses. This represents a vulnerability that could
potentially be exploited to develop interventions against viruses currently circulating in humans as well as new
and emerging viral threats. However, realizing this potential requires mechanistic understanding of how specific
host factors function during viral infection. This proposal will develop a versatile screening methodology to
investigate the mechanisms through which host proteins enhance virus replication. This will be achieved using
recent developments in genome engineering and chemical biology that enable site-specific modification of host
factors with unnatural amino acids. By genetically re-coding >100 host proteins implicated in the replication of
influenza A virus (IAV), we will investigate (1) the effects of depleting specific host factors on virus replication
and the subcellular localization of viral proteins; (2) the effects of viral infection on the expression and subcellular
localization of host proteins; and (3) the effects of host factor depletion on the assembly and morphogenesis of
new virus particles. If successful, this project will provide insight into the host dependency of IAV and establish
a resource for investigating host protein function in the replication of additional, evolutionarily-divergent
respiratory viruses.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10408861
- **Project number:** 5R21AI163985-02
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Michael D Vahey
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $196,875
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-05-21 → 2024-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10408861

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10408861, Investigating virus-host interactions with prime editing and genetic code expansion (5R21AI163985-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10408861. Licensed CC0.

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