Award
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases 5F30AI181515-03
Characterization of Enterovirus 68 3C Protease For the Development of Robust and Potent Direct-Acting Antiviral Inhibitors
Recipient
University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester, MA
Award Amount
$58,114.00
Ceiling
$58,114.00
Awarded
December 16, 2025
Identifier
5F30AI181515-03
The award supports research to develop potent antiviral inhibitors targeting the EV68 3C protease, aiming to overcome drug resistance by designing inhibitors that fit within the substrate envelope of the protease, thereby providing robust treatment options for EV68 infections.
Description
This project aims to develop robust, novel compounds with resistance-thwarting protease inhibition against the emerging pathogen enterovirus-D68 (EV68). The study focuses on cocrystallization of EV68 3C protease with its natural substrates to calculate the substrate envelope, informing substrate specificity and aiding in the design of pan-3C-protease inhibitors. The project includes determining cocrystal structures, elucidating molecular mechanisms, and designing/testing novel direct-acting antiviral inhibitors targeting EV68 3C protease.