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The use of RNA plant viruses in bio- and nano-technology

ReferenceBBS/E/J/00000166
Principal Investigator / Supervisor Professor George Lomonossoff
Co-Investigators /
Co-Supervisors
Institution John Innes Centre
DepartmentJohn Innes Centre Department
Funding typeResearch
Value (£) 2,618,174
StatusCompleted
TypeInstitute Project
Start date 01/04/1997
End date 31/03/2017
Duration240 months

Abstract

The objective of this project is to investigate the molecular properties of RNA plant viruses, particularly cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV) with a view to utilising these properties for various applications in bio- and nanotechnology. For example, the mechanism of CPMV capsid morphogenesis is being studied through the expression of the structural proteins in both plants and heterologous systems. This research is leading to the development of methods for producing modified virus-like particles (VLPs) with distinctive biological and chemical properties. Such VLPs can act as nano-particles for such applications as antigen presentation, drug delivery, bio-imaging etc. Likewise, the features of viral RNAs which enable them to be translated efficiently and replicated by their cognate RNA-dependent RNA polymerases are being investigated in both plants and heterologous systems. Understanding of such features is of paramount importance for the development of virus-based vectors for the expression of foreign proteins not only in plants but in eukaryotic cells in general.

Summary

unavailable
Committee Not funded via Committee
Research TopicsMicrobiology, Structural Biology
Research PriorityX – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative X - not in an Initiative
Funding SchemeX – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme
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