SDSU scientists to examine how coronavirus infects cells

Identifying the mechanisms through which the new coronavirus enters and infects cells can help scientists combat COVID-19—and perhaps other emerging viruses.

Professor Adam Hoppe of the South Dakota State University Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry will identify genes that inhibit or contribute to viral infections through a one-year, $200,000 National Science Foundation grant. Hoppe is the second SDSU researcher to receive funding through NSF’s Rapid Response Research mechanism to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

The goal of the project, which began in July, is to figure out “how the coronavirus gets into cells to initiate infection,” said Hoppe, describing the work as “a very basic science approach, aimed at broadly identifying all of the cellular machinery that affects viral entry.” Hoppe, a cell biologist, is also director of the South Dakota BioSystems Networks and Translational Research center, known as BioSNTR.

For the NSF grant, Hoppe and his team of one research associate and one doctoral student will determine how each gene in the human genome affects the new coronavirus’ ability to enter the cell. The SDSU genome sequencing facility, led by professor Jose Gonzalez, will also play an integral role.

Read the full story from South Dakota University here.