MSU faculty member scores grant to study COVID-19 genetic mutations

MSU faculty member scores grant to study COVID-19 genetic mutations

by Sam Kealhofer, Intern on the A&S Research Support Team

Department of Biological Sciences Assistant Professor Jean-François Gout has put together an international team working to characterize genetic mutations of the coronavirus, a strategy that could ultimately help in the development of treatments and vaccines for COVID-19. The project will use Sars-Cov-2 samples from Europe, Africa and the U.S. to study the frequency and effects of viral genetic mutations.

The study will examine thousands of mutations with the goal of finding ones that are critical to the virus life cycle. Doing so highlights the weak points in the virus’ genome that could then be targeted by future medicines.

Gout and primary investigator Marc Vermulst, assistant professor of gerontology at the University of Southern California, had already worked together on projects measuring the accuracy of DNA transcription to RNA, which uses methods originally developed to study the mutations of viruses. They decided to create a similar project focusing on the coronavirus and were awarded $198,000 in NSF rapid response funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. To do so, they partnered with Associate Professor at UMC Utrecht, the Netherlands, Monique Nijhuis, a world renowned RNA virus expert who will handle all the virus samples in her Biosafety Level-3 laboratory.

The research shows promise because it is responsive to the ever-changing nature of the virus. The team utilizes the growing number of cases to study the virus and find its weakness. In doing so, the project could prove critical in the creation of an effective treatment or vaccine.

Gout offers more than a decade of study into genomes, DNA transcription and transcript integrity and his work has been featured in “Sciences Advances,” “Journal of Visualized Experiments,” and “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.”

In an effort to contribute insight and solutions to the various challenges facing the nation, the College of Arts & Sciences will continue to highlight faculty research in our “Research in the Headlines” series each Monday and Wednesday. For more research in the headlines, visit https://www.cas.msstate.edu/research/researchintheheadlines/; and for information about the College of Arts & Sciences or the Department of Biological Sciences visit https://www.cas.msstate.edu/ or https://www.biology.msstate.edu/.

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