Study of Parvovirus B19 Virus-Cell Interaction in Erythroid Progenitor Cells and the Activity of Antiviral Compounds

Department

Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology

Main research activities/topics/projects

Parvovirus B19 (B19V), a ssDNA virus, is a relevant human pathogen, widely and globally circulating, with an ample and diverse pathogenic potential. Commonly associated with infectious erythema and acute/chronic arthralgia, B19V is typically responsible for pathologies of the hematopoietic compartment, such as erythroid aplastic crises and pure erythrocyte aplasia. In addition, the virus is involved in several other diseases including acute or chronic myocarditis, while the infection contracted by pregnant women poses a high risk of intrauterine transmission and damage to the fetus. The pathogenesis is mainly a consequence of the selective tropism of B19V for progenitor cells in the erythroid lineage (EPC), in which B19V exerts a cytotoxic effect with blockade of erythropoiesis, and of the triggering of inflammatory responses in other different tis-sues. The development of antivirals against B19V is an unmet medical need, prompting for active research.

The research project is aimed at characterizing virus-cell interaction of parvovirus B19 in erythroid progenitor cells, and the definition of potentially antiviral targets. Based on the availability in the host laboratory of a synthetic genomic clone capable of producing infectious viruses, and on the capability of culturing primary erythroid cells, the project will primarily focus on studying – at single cell level – the viral expression 

profile in the infected cell population, the cellular modifications induced by the virus, and the evaluation of the virus's susceptibility to selected chemical compounds with potential antiviral activity.

Information on the group research activity on the topic ‘Parvovirus B19’ can be found in the institutional webpage:

https://www.unibo.it/sitoweb/giorgio.gallinella/en

Working language

Working language is English (knowledge of Italian would be appreciated)

Special entry requirements

Trained experience in cell culture and molecular biology techniques are preferred

Duration in months (min-max)

Post Doc: 6-12