Coronaviruses
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that infect a wide range of species, from mice to humans and even beluga whales. In humans, coronaviruses cause respiratory tract infections that vary in severity depending on the virus. In animals, the symptoms depend on the animal involved and the virus. We are all aware of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, but SARS-CoV-2 is not the first coronavirus to emerge in recent times: SARS-CoV-1 and MERS-CoV are examples of “highly pathogenic human coronaviruses” that caused significant epidemics with high fatality rates. Additionally, there are a range of animal coronaviruses that cause significant problems in the farming industry, such as IBV in chickens and TGEV in pigs.
Prior to recent developments, there were no approved treatments of vaccines for any human coronavirus. Therefore, when the SARS-CoV-2 was first identified, there were no interventions with proven human efficacy to test.
Despite the range of species and significant differences between coronaviruses, they also share some similarities – such as encoding proteins that perform functions essential for replication. One interest of the laboratory is to find and characterise these shared functions so that they can be targeted by new therapeutics that may be used in the event of a future coronavirus outbreak.
Another interest is in the virus: host interactions of individual coronaviruses. Specifically how coronaviruses interact with and manipulate the host immune system to ensure their own survival. Again with the idea that these functions can be targeted with novel therapeutics.
Group members: Dr Chris Coleman (lab lead), James Hallwood (BBSRC DTP Postgraduate student), Anton Smith (Wellcome Trust DTP Postgraduate student),
Prior to recent developments, there were no approved treatments of vaccines for any human coronavirus. Therefore, when the SARS-CoV-2 was first identified, there were no interventions with proven human efficacy to test.
Despite the range of species and significant differences between coronaviruses, they also share some similarities – such as encoding proteins that perform functions essential for replication. One interest of the laboratory is to find and characterise these shared functions so that they can be targeted by new therapeutics that may be used in the event of a future coronavirus outbreak.
Another interest is in the virus: host interactions of individual coronaviruses. Specifically how coronaviruses interact with and manipulate the host immune system to ensure their own survival. Again with the idea that these functions can be targeted with novel therapeutics.
Group members: Dr Chris Coleman (lab lead), James Hallwood (BBSRC DTP Postgraduate student), Anton Smith (Wellcome Trust DTP Postgraduate student),