Circular RNAs regulating the SARS-CoV-2 infection in the cardiovascular system
Data integration for the central COFONI research database
Contact
Project partners
- Prof. Dr. Thomas Thum (Projektleiter, MHH)
- Prof. Dr. Ulrich Kalinke (TWINCORE)
Funding
Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Georg-August-Universität
Summary
COronaVIrus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), a single-stranded RNA virus, triggered a global pandemic in 2019. The highly contagious virus caused patients to experience respiratory symptoms of variable severity, both severe and mild, affecting their health and the quality of life of those affected and their families.
The so-called non-coding RNAs are increasingly playing an essential role in the development and regulation of not only non-communicable diseases but also infectious diseases.
This project aims to determine the role of circular, or closed-ring, functional RNA molecules in the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection and propagation in the cardiovascular system. Previous studies have already established that circular RNAs in human cardiac myocytes undergo severe alteration after SARS-CoV-2 infection. In contrast, specific manipulation of targeted circular RNAs can suppress SARS-CoV-2 infection or replication in the cell culture system. Molecular mechanisms responsible for this require further investigation.
Within the COFONI technology platform, a circular RNA-based COVID-19 therapy will be tested in various relevant pre-clinical models. PLRI contributes to this projects by integrating results data for further use into the central COFONI network research database.
Duration
02/2022 - 01/2025