Life Sciences & Biotechnology
Title : | Understanding the role of SARS-CoV-2 virulence factor-Orf3a in modulating host cell responses: A way to identify host-directed therapy |
Area of research : | COVID-19 Research, Life Sciences & Biotechnology |
Focus area : | Therapeutics for COVID-19 |
Principal Investigator : | Dr Amit Tuli, Scientist, CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh |
Timeline Start Year : | 2020 |
Contact info : | atuli@imtech.res.in |
Details
Executive Summary : | The aim of this grant application is to understand the role of SARS-CoV-2 Orf3a in modulating host cell responses. To achieve this, the following objectives will be pursued: (i) determine Orf3a localisation in host cells and delineate sorting motifs required for its intracellular trafficking; and (ii) elucidate the significance of Orf3a interaction with candidate host endosomal-lysosomal proteins. |
Publications : | 1 |
Outcome/Output: | This study characterised the Orf3a accessory protein of SARS-CoV-2 and found it to localise in different endocytic compartments as well as in the Golgi compartment of the cell. It also identified key tyrosine-based sorting signal in the C-terminal tail of Orf3a responsible for its intracellular trafficking inside the host cells. Further, it was found that expression of Orf3a leads to increase in pH of lysosomes causing impairment in cargo trafficking and degradation in lysosomes. |
Organizations involved