Cellular and Molecular Biology

The devastating effects of COVID-19 have taught the world weakness and general unpreparedness in tackling a respiratory virus pandemic. During a respiratory virus pandemic, effective antivirals are fundamental in slowing down the spread of infection, saving life, and gaining time while waiting for the specific virus vaccine development. Thus, Broad Spectrum Antivirals (BSAs) effective against Coronavirus and Influenza virus, and that can be rapidly deployed against future emerging respiratory virus threats are urgently needed.

This master thesis work aims to contribute to the future pandemic preparedness by characterizing the antiviral activity of small molecules able to target host biochemical pathways essential for the replication of Coronavirus and Influenza Virus, such as enzymes involved in the de novo biosynthesis of pyrimidines (UMPS), as well as in folding viral envelope glycoproteins in the secretory pathway (PDIA3, PIN1).