Joachim Seipelt is on university leave since July 2010 and works at a biotech company, AVIR Green Hills Biotechnology AG. AVIR is developing a novel intranasal influenza vaccine (deltaFLU).

 

 

We are interested in the molecular mechanisms of interactions between viruses and host cells. Our main interest is the biology of Human Rhinovirus, this virus is the causative agent of common cold. Its relatives within the picornavirus genus are important pathogens in humans such as poliovirus or coxsackievirus and in animals, e.g. foot and mouth disease virus.

 

 

These small and simple viruses can – in a short timeframe – very efficiently subvert a complex eucaryotic cell into a virus producing machine. Cells try to defend themselves against intruders, but at the same time viruses have evolved complex strategies to avoid cellular defense reactions. Analysis of this interplay between host and virus can provide new insights into both viral and cellular functions.

 

 

Within this theme we work on several topics: We have in the past analyzed interactions of viruses with the cytoskeleton. We have found that a viral proteinase 2A cleaves cytokeratin 8 during virus multiplication.  Another area of interest is the onset of cell-death (apoptosis) during virus infection. Here we would like to discriminate between cell-mediated and virus mediated processes. We have found significant differences in the induction of apoptosis when analyzing different serotypes of HRVs. These data hint on substantial biological diversity of these viruses.

 

Furthermore, we have identified a set of antiviral compounds that show striking antiviral properties. We try to identify the antiviral mechanism of these compounds in molecular detail. Understanding the mode of action of these compounds might be used on a medium term scale to find novel chemical molecules with improved antiviral activity against these viruses. In collaboration with Karl Kuchler, MFPL, we have used yeast as a model system to identify underlying mechanisms.