Analysis of Viral Entry Factors and Discovery of Anti-filoviral Entry Inhibitors

Emerging viral diseases, such as those caused by H5N1 avian influenza and the filoviruses Ebola and Marburg virus, are often difficult to predict and can lead to severe illness and death. It is important to study these viruses so we can best know how to combat them. In this work, we investigate both the basic mechanism of infection for H5N1 influenza virus, Ebola, and Marburg virus, and to develop effective anti-filoviral therapeutics. Here we demonstrate that the reticulon 4 receptor (RTN4R) plays a role in influenza infection, while the tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) is involved in filoviral infection. We also report several small molecule compounds and plant extracts which exhibit potent anti-filoviral activity.