Nevan Krogan

Nevan Krogan, Director of the Institute for Quantitative Biosciences at the University of California, San Francisco (USA), will investigate as an Einstein Visiting Fellow at Freie Universität Berlin how the Influenza A virus restructures the proteome—the entirety of produced proteins and their signaling pathways—of infected host cells as part of the infection process.

The virus alters numerous molecular processes within the cell to exploit its mechanisms for replication. However, the precise molecular basis of this process remains unknown. In collaboration with the research group led by Christian Freund, spokesperson for Transregio TRR186, Krogan will analyze the modifications that occur in host proteins following the infection of human lung cells.

Using cutting-edge mass spectrometry, electron microscopy, and molecular modeling, the researchers aim to investigate how viral and host proteins assemble into complexes. The data obtained will contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms of action of new antiviral drugs, help identify potential new drug targets, and ultimately improve pandemic preparedness.