# PPG: SARS-CoV-host cell interactions and vaccine development

> **NIH NIH P01** · UNIVERSITY OF IOWA · 2020 · $1,254,329

## Abstract

OVERVIEW-SUMMARY
The emergence of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2002-3 and the Middle East
Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in 2012 demonstrates that zoonotic coronaviruses (CoV) have and will
likely continue to spread from zoonotic sources to infect human populations. MERS-CoV continues to
circulate in camels and to spread to susceptible humans, highlighting the need to better understand
the pathogenesis of diseases mediated by pathogenic human respiratory CoV. In this PPG,
investigators with experience in coronavirus pathogenesis, molecular biology, immunology and
vaccinology will work together to understand how virus factors and dysregulated innate and adaptive
immune responses contribute to MERS and SARS disease in young and aged animals and in animals
with co-morbidities. All of the projects will utilize newly developed mice expressing human MERS
receptor (DPP4) in lieu of the mouse receptor (hDPP4-KI) and a mouse-virulent MERS-CoV, selected
in these mice (MERSMA). Project 1 will use MERSMA to investigate the role of aging in infected mice.
Project 1 is also based on published data showing that specific eiconsanoids with anti-inflammatory
properites and their upstream phopholipases increase during aging, contributing to a delayed immune
response after SARS-CoV (and by extension, perhaps MERSMA) infection. Project 2 is based on
preliminary data showing that MERS-CoV has a greater dependence on host cell proteases for virus
entry than does SARS-CoV. This project will investigate unique mutations found in the surface (S)
glycoprotein of MERSMA that appear to affect protease function. Project 3 will investigate how
MERSMA causes more severe disease than the initial human EMC/2012 strain, with focus on the
ORF4b accessory protein. This project will also investigate how hDPP4 contributes to disease
severity. Project 4 is based on published data showing that the CoV E protein has ion channel activity,
is a virulence factor and contains a PDZ binding domain (PBM), which is critical for virus viability. This
project will focus on how the E protein causes edema in lungs and on the role of the PBM in
pathogenesis. A novel PBM in the C terminal of E arose in MERSMA during mouse passage and its
role will be studied. This project will also continue to develop safe, live attenuated MERS and SARS
vaccines. All of the projects will use the Animal/Virology Core, which will provide nonrecombinant and
recombinant MERS-CoV and SARS-CoVs and will monitor and analyze infected mice. Using the Core
for these purposes will maximize experimental quality control and effective use of our resources.
These projects are all interrelated and collaborative, will take advantage of the unique skills and
expertise of the project directors and provide new information about MERS and SARS pathogenesis
that is essential to vaccine development.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9988149
- **Project number:** 5P01AI060699-14
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
- **Principal Investigator:** Stanley Perlman
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $1,254,329
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2004-07-01 → 2022-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9988149

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9988149, PPG: SARS-CoV-host cell interactions and vaccine development (5P01AI060699-14). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9988149. Licensed CC0.

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