Presenting on “Physical mechanism in the entry and inhibition of emerging enveloped viruses”

Peter Kasson, MD, PhD, Associate Professor in Molecular Physiology and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Virginia, will speak Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022 at 10:00 am CST in Whitaker 218.

Abstract: Enveloped viruses bind to receptors on the cell surface and are then activated for entry by a process of membrane fusion that can take place either on the cell surface or in endosomal compartments. We study the viral conformational dynamics and protein-membrane interactions that control this process using a combination of computational modeling and single-event optical microscopy.  Using these methods, we can dissect the roles that cellular receptors play in activating viruses for entry, the nature of downstream triggers for fusion, and the physical forces controlling viral membrane fusion. We can also differentiate to what degree neutralizing antibodies act on viral attachment versus membrane fusion. Finally, integrating computational and spectroscopic methods further permits refinement of conformational equilibria and dynamics controlling the activation of viral glycoproteins and their neutralization by antibodies.

Presenting on “Physical mechanism in the entry and inhibition of emerging enveloped viruses”

Peter Kasson, MD, PhD, Associate Professor in Molecular Physiology and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Virginia, will speak Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022 at 10:00 am CST in Whitaker 218.

Abstract: Enveloped viruses bind to receptors on the cell surface and are then activated for entry by a process of membrane fusion that can take place either on the cell surface or in endosomal compartments. We study the viral conformational dynamics and protein-membrane interactions that control this process using a combination of computational modeling and single-event optical microscopy.  Using these methods, we can dissect the roles that cellular receptors play in activating viruses for entry, the nature of downstream triggers for fusion, and the physical forces controlling viral membrane fusion. We can also differentiate to what degree neutralizing antibodies act on viral attachment versus membrane fusion. Finally, integrating computational and spectroscopic methods further permits refinement of conformational equilibria and dynamics controlling the activation of viral glycoproteins and their neutralization by antibodies.