Tiziana Corsello-Gorgun, PhD

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the most common viruses affecting the respiratory system of children. A valid treatment or vaccine is not yet available for fighting RSV infection. Particles released by the cells of our body, known as extracellular vesicles (EVs), are chemical messengers that affect the behavior of cells. EVs contain proteins, able to change the cells’ behavior, by delivering the proteins as signals to other cells. We identified EV-proteins from airway cells during viral infection, mediating the infection. EVs have the potential to carry medicine to target organs within the body. Our goal is to improve the knowledge of EVs during viral infections. This will help to provide the basis for potential EV-mediated antiviral strategies to treat infections.

Update:

We have made significant progress in the first year. We identified EV proteins from 3-D RSV-infected nasal cells and from nasal secretions of children with episodes of viral infection using novel protein test technologies. We will continue to profile the proteins of EVs from the upper airways of patients with episodes of RSV infection.  We will determine the biological activity of EVs through established functional tests and dissect the antiviral effect of the EVs during RSV infection. Our research could be exploited as a natural potential therapeutic approach for RSV.