Dr. Fabian Zech
Dr. Fabian Zech is a junior group leader at the Institute of Molecular Virology, focusing on viral glycoprotein - host receptor interactions and how to exploit them for antiviral therapy.
Precision Therapeutics to Eliminate Viral Reservoirs
Viral infections, from the rapidly spreading acute respiratory viruses, like Influenza and severe-acute-respiratory-syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to persistent viruses, such as the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and Hepatitis B and C, pose significant global health challenges. Viruses evade the immune system and infection might lead to long-term health issues and post-acute sequelae. Currently, no specific therapeutics are available against most viral pathogens and no antiviral therapy exists that specifically eliminates infected cells to cure chronic infections. Recently, we established VSV particles lacking their G-Glycoprotein (ΔG) but carrying Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2), the entry receptor of SARS-CoV-2, as a novel, highly specific class of antivirals (Zech et al., STTT, 2023). We now aim to broadened our approach to other high risk and emerging enveloped viral pathogens, focusing on those for which no specific antiviral therapy is available or which establish long-term viral reservoirs.
Multi-colour screening of human-derived compound libraries for entry inhibitors of enveloped viral pathogens.
Further, using VSV particles lacking their own glycoprotein (ΔG) but carrying the glycoprotein of a foreign viral pathogen (VSVΔGpp) enables us to screen for entry-modulating compounds against highly pathogenic viruses under low BSL conditions. Simultaneous screening with multiple fluorophores and the expansion of our VSVΔGpp panel to include Envelope proteins from more than 200 different viral strains allows efficient and high-throughput identification of entry inhibitors.
By combining targeted, receptor-based antiviral particles with scalable screening across hundreds of viral glycoproteins, we aim to identify new compounds that target GP–receptor interactions and develop therapeutic strategies that not only block viral infection but also eliminate persistently infected cells -enabling durable cure for chronic or persistent viral infection.
