Year of Award
2014
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Type
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Other Degree Name/Area of Focus
Integrative Microbiology and Biochemistry
Department or School/College
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Committee Chair
Scott Samuels
Commitee Members
J. Stephen Lodmell, Michele McGuirl, Jean-Marc Lanchy, Christopher Palmer
Abstract
Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is an emerging infectious pathogen that causes severe disease in humans and livestock and has the potential for global spread. Currently, there is no treatment for RVFV infection and there is no proven safe and effective vaccine. Inhibition of RNA binding to RVFV nucleocapsid (N) protein represents an innovative antiviral therapeutic strategy because several essential steps in the RVFV replication cycle involve N binding to viral RNA. The overall goals of our research are to better understand how RVFV N protein interacts with RNA, to develop a high-throughput drug screening assay for identification of compounds that inhibit a N-RNA binding interaction and to test the efficacy of potential antiviral drug compounds during RVFV infection. Completion of the proposed research will result in an increased understanding of the basic biology of this important human pathogen and aid in the design of more powerful and effective anti-RVFV drugs.
Recommended Citation
Ellenbecker, Mary Lee, "Characterization of Rift Valley fever virus nucleocapsid protein-RNA binding interactions and development of a high-throughput screening assay for identification of n-RNA binding inhibitors" (2014). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 10748.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/10748
© Copyright 2014 Mary Lee Ellenbecker