A new EU project, COMBINE, aims to understand how viruses, using Marburg Virus as a model, infiltrate host cells. This knowledge will be used to develop new antiviral strategies and strengthen global pandemic preparedness.
University of Oslo, Faculty of MedicineJan 21 2025 With viral disease emergence expected to accelerate, preparing for possible future pandemics is paramount. Beyond saving lives during outbreaks, robust pandemic preparedness safeguards economies, sustains societal functioning, and reinforces the resilience of global systems. The new EU project COMBINE acknowledges that understanding how viruses infiltrate host cells is crucial to combating emerging infectious diseases.
The COMBINE approach: Identification, characterization & inhibition of the virus-cell binding step Any viral infection begins with the attachment of the virus to host cells and subsequent activation of cellular receptors, making it essential to identify the factors and mechanisms involved. Therefore, COMBINE focuses on the critical virus-cell binding step, aiming to identify key factors and potential therapeutic targets involved early in viral infections.
Marburg virus, like Ebola virus, a member of the filovirus family, is a highly infectious and lethal pathogen with substantial epidemic potential. The virus occurs in fruit bats, widely distributed across Africa, and may also be transmitted between humans. Additionally, the virus' incubation period, ranging from 2 to 21 days, allows for potential silent transmission by individuals who are not yet symptomatic, further complicating outbreak control efforts.
Using the COMBINE approach, the team aims to establish the fundamental pre-clinical basis for the continued development of specific anti-MARV drugs and optimized MARV vaccines. "With COMBINE, we aim to make a lasting impact by reducing premature mortality and the healthcare burden of the Marburg virus through novel treatments and optimized vaccines.
A blueprint for the identification of antiviral targets against newly emerging viruses Beyond unveiling crucial insights into MARV cell entry, the project will break new ground and develop an innovative experimental pipeline for identifying and targeting proteins involved in the virus attachment process, a critical factor in combating viral outbreaks.
VIRUSES PANDEMICS ANTIVIRALS MARBURG VIRUS PUBLIC HEALTH
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