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Profiling biological properties of SARS-CoV-2 VoCs and evaluating their susceptibility to therapeutics

COVID-19 Research Area(s): Diagnostics, Genomics & Transmission Dynamics

A UBC team led by Dr. François Jean has been funded to produce rapid and detailed characterizations of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern by CoVaRR-Net, a Canadian research network focused on emerging variants. Funding from CoVaRR-Net will support the interdisciplinary team in systematically profiling the biological properties of SARS-CoV-2 VoCs and investigating the susceptibility of VoCs to potential life-saving treatments. 

The researchers will utilize next-generation sequencing to monitor genome mutations (Drs. Prystajecky and Krajden) and use different state-of-the-art, CFI-funded bioimaging platforms to evaluate the impact of viral infectivity and spread on morphology (shape, structure, size, viability) in 3D cell models obtained from patients and in different cell lines. These technology platforms include fluorescence microscopy (Drs. Jean, Olmstead and Nabi) and transmission electron microscopy (Drs. Jean and Vogl).

Post date: 
Aug 27, 2021