1. Article | 2020.06.22

   Nicotinic modulation of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the brain

   Aim: This project aims at experimentally testing the hypothesis that the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) plays a key role in the pathophysiology of Covid-19 infection and might represent a target for the prevention and control of Covid-19 infection.

2. Article | 2020.06.22

   Mechanisms of intercellular spreading of SARS-CoV-2: assessing the role of TNTs to escape immune surveillance and expand tropism and pathogenicity

   Aim: We will study the mechanism of spreading of SARS-CoV-2 between permissive (eg; epithelial) and non-permissive (eg; neuronal) cells, and investigate the role of TNTs, as well as the dependence on the ACE2 receptor. Our cryoEM and FIBSEM set up, will provide unique structural information about this process. Overall, this project will allow understanding the mechanism of the viral...

3. Article | 2020.06.22

   Evaluating the determinants of coronavirus tropism in 3D models of human pulmonary epithelia

   Aim: This study will compare the tropism of SARS-CoV-2 and more benign human coronaviruses for primary epithelia of the respiratory tract, to determine whether tropism associates with pathogenicity. The research team will use models based on reconstructed human airway epithelia and take advantage of a lung-on-chip technology that mimics the pulmonary alveolae stretch associated with...

4. Article | 2020.06.22

   Sequence the complete genome of Covid-19 directly and at low cost from prepared RNA samples from patients

   Aim: to be able to sequence the complete genome of Covid-19 directly and at low cost from prepared RNA samples from patients. We plan to implement a capture sequencing protocol targeting the SARS-CoV-2 genome using three commercial sets of probes in parallel. Results will be compared with a bioinformatics analysis pipeline and shared via publication (Biorxiv preprint followed by classical...

5. Article | 2020.06.22

   Air monitoring risk area

   Aim: The ARISE project will produce an air analyser equipped with detection capabilities for the ubiquitous monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 pathogens in airborne droplets or aerosols in confined environments. ARISE deals with the development and validation of an analytical chain for the air monitoring of areas at risk of exposure to individuals contaminated by the SARS-CoV2 virus. Knowledge...

6. Article | 2020.06.22

   A zebrafish model to study SARS-CoV-2 neuroinvasion

   Aim: Invasion of the central nervous system, possibly via the olfactory nerve, is suspected to play a role in respiratory failure of Covid-19 patients. This project aims to test SARS-CoV- 2 neuroinvasiveness in vivo in a zebrafish model. The zebrafish larva allows easy visualization of the entire nervous system in vivo or with whole mount fixed samples. It could provide a cheap, genetically...

7. Article | 2020.06.22

   Neurological implications of SARS-COV-2 infection – a transversal study

   Aim: The infection of the nasal mucosa and the lungs by CoV-2 may spread to the CNS, including the brainstem, thereby playing a potential key role in the severe respiratory distress observed in COVID-19. Although several clinical observations support this hypothesis, the knowledge in this field is very limited. To fill this gap, we will investigate CoV-2 neuroinvasion in humans, animal...

8. Article | 2020.06.22

   Restriction of SARS-CoV-2 replication by coding and non-coding genes

   Aim: Knowledge concerning the interaction of SARS-CoV-2 with human cells is sparse. RNA-sequencing analysis, loss-of-function approaches and mechanistic studies will be used to identify and characterize coding and non-coding genes that restrict viral replication. Taking advantage of some of these naturally occurring viral inhibitors may be an effective strategy in the development of novel...

9. News | 2020.06.18

   Phylogenetic analysis of SARS-CoV-2: strengths, limitations and over-interpretations

   The Institut Pasteur's bioinformatics research teams have been closely involved in the response to COVID-19, working to analyze the sequencing data produced worldwide. On January 29, 2020, the Institut Pasteur, which is responsible for monitoring respiratory viruses in France, was the first in Europe to sequence the whole genome of the coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2. Since then, it has sequenced...

10. Article | 2020.06.22

    Deciphering the virus interactions with the entry receptors in human cells, and their potential inhibition

    Aim: Researchers will develop and employ a workflow that combines cryogenic light and electron microscopy imaging modalities with computational analysis and data mining to determine high-resolution in-situ structural images of the virus-spike interactions with cell receptors and with the antibodies that abrogate their cell entry. These studies will provide a blueprint for the design of...

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