VirRNApoldrugtarget: Towards the design of new potent antiviral drugs: structure-function analysis of paramyxoviridae RNA polymerase

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 01.0070

Key words (English)

Paramyxovirus; Sendai virus; RNA polymerase; nucleocapsid; replication;
Life Sciences; Medicine; Health; Safety; Scientific Research; Social Aspects

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: QLK2-CT-2001-01225

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 5. Frame Research Programme - 1.1.2 Control of infectious diseases

Short description (English)

See abstract

Further information (English)

Full name of research-institution/enterprise:
Université de Genève
Centre Médical Universitaire
Département de Microbiologie et Médecine Moléculaire

Partners and International Organizations (English)

Coordinator: Université Claude Bernard, Lyon (F)

Abstract (English)

The ultimate goal is the design of new antiviral drugs that specifically interfere with the replication of virus members of the Mononegavirales order, which are responsible for human and animal life-threatening diseases with large socio-economic impact. The RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase (RdRp) of these viruses, the replicase, has no counterpart in mammalian cells, what makes it an attractive target for antiviral therapy.

Seven partners will perform a structure-function analysis of the replicase, its viral, and possibly cellular, cofactors, and of its unique template, the nucleo-capsid, in the presence or absence of antiviral drugs.
To increase the chance of success, three complementary virus models will be studied, the Measles, Respiratory Syncytial & Sendai viruses. The outcome will be a 'poly-merase toolbox' which will enable a panel of 5 European SME to model the replicase and its template from any related viruses and design new antiviral drugs & vaccine.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 01.0070