Project

Genetic modification of the human airway epithelium – a paradigmatic system to study host responses to human respiratory viruses

Completed · 2012 until 2012

Type
Fundamental Research
Range
Monocentric project at KSSG
Units
Status
Completed
Start Date
2012
End Date
2012
Financing
Others
Brief description/objective

The goal of this project is to establish a unique experimental system to study fundamental aspects of human respiratory virus replication and interactions with the innate immune system at the natural entry port of human respiratory viruses, namely the human airway epithelium (HAE). Specifically, we aim to make primary HAE cultures amenable to genetic modifications by applying lentivirus-based vectors to mediate trans-gene expression and knock-down of particular genes. The efficacy and biological effect of genetic modifications in HAE cultures will be assessed by analyzing infection of HAE cultures with human coronaviruses.