Hijacking of human host factors by viruses
Structural Membrane Biology
Abstract
Space in the capsids of small viruses is limited and small viruses do not encode every enzymatic activity required for their replication. Single stranded plus RNA (+RNA) viruses like picornaviruses or flaviviruses replicate at replication organelles (also known as replication factories or membranous webs) which provide an optimal replication environment and also protection from innate immunity. To create these replication organelles +RNA viruses “hijack” a plethora of host factors such as the lipid kinase PI4KB or the Golgi-resident ACBD3 protein. The aim of this project is to structurally characterize complexes of viral and human proteins to gain deep molecular understanding and to define new targets for antivirals.
Field of study: Molecular biology and genetics
Universities
PhD students must be enrolled in a partner university and will be employed by the IOCB Prague at the same time (part-time or full time), which results in a competitive salary (a scholarship from the university + a salary from the IOCB). Each university has its own process, terms, and deadlines for PhD applications, which is separate from the IOCB recruitment process. You may discuss the details with the respective PI.
University partners
How to apply
Please return to the PhD projects at IOCB Prague – Call for Applications 2020 page and follow the instructions.