Center for Host-Pathogen Interaction
The Center for Host-Pathogen Interaction, directed by Anne Moscona, conducts basic and translational research on viral entry and infection, with a particular focus on paramyxoviruses that cause childhood respiratory disease and emerging viral threats. Projects are organized around the interdisciplinary theme of virus-host interactions and draw upon strategies and methods from molecular biology, cell biology, biophysics, immunology, computational biology, structural biology, and virology. Research at the Center has defined mechanisms by which viral proteins coordinate entry into host cells, including the critical role of viral receptor-binding proteins in regulating and activating membrane fusion. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of viral entry has led to the identification of targets for antiviral intervention and the development of fusion-inhibitory compounds. More recent work has identified potent neutralizing antibodies and advanced new vaccine strategies based on the organization and function of viral entry proteins. The Center's research encompasses human parainfluenza viruses, measles virus, Nipah virus, influenza viruses, and other emerging viral pathogens.
