In addition to retroviruses, we also study flaviviruses, especially Dengue virus, tick-borne encephalitis virus, and Zika virus. We are trying to investigate how flaviviral proteins recognize their genomic RNA and select it among many other nucleic acid molecules in the cell. We characterize structural motifs on the genomic RNA and analyze their affinity to flaviviral capsid protein. We also participate in the NMR structural studies of the capsid protein of both Dengue virus and tick-borne encephalitis virus. Our ultimate goal is to develop an in vitro method for testing of inhibitors of the assembly of viral particles and seek for inhibitors that would inhibit this step of flaviviral replication cycle.
Grant support: GAČR 2018-2020
Collaboration: Biology Centre CAS, University of South Bohemia in České Budejovice, IOCB CAS, BIOCEV