Developing Glycan-Based Antiviral Prophylactics to Prevent Infection by COVID-19 and Other Respiratory Viruses

The COVID-19 pandemic has now surpassed 37 million confirmed cases. No vaccine or antiviral drug has yet been approved to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19. Moreover, the most vulnerable people are also at risk of severe infection from seasonal circulating respiratory viruses, such as influenza viruses. In the absence of effective vaccines against COVID-19 and most strains of common respiratory viruses, new approaches guided by interdisciplinary research are required. Most viruses initiate attachment to the surface of human cells by interacting with complex carbohydrates called glycans. I aim to identify which subtypes of glycans are used by SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses for entry and infection of human airway cells. Working with expert carbohydrate chemists, we will design and test glycan-mimicking antiviral molecules that block the interaction with glycans to prevent viral infection. With this project, we will accelerate the development of antiviral candidates to address current respiratory virus infections and to prepare for future emerging viruses.