Analysis of Biomolecular Condensates in Infectious Diseases

Abnormal forms of biomolecular condensates are associated with many human diseases. Our experts are dedicated to the broad characterization of pathological condensates, opening up exciting new avenues for therapeutic intervention. Here, CD BioSciences offers professional services to analyze biomolecular condensates as therapeutic targets for infectious diseases.

Research Progress of Biomolecular Condensates in Infectious Diseases

Infectious diseases are among the most common human diseases and pose a major threat to humans. Infections can be caused by a variety of pathogens, including pathogenic microorganisms (e.g., viruses, bacteria, fungi, and mycoplasma) and parasites (e.g., trypanosomes, Plasmodium, and Toxoplasma). Humans have evolved a very effective and widely adapted immune system to fight pathogenic infections, but pathogens have also developed multiple immune escape mechanisms during their evolution. The specific mechanisms behind these complex processes are currently unknown to scientists. Studies have shown that liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) plays an important role in the anti-infection immune response. LLPS provides a new framework for explaining and understanding the underlying mechanisms of infectious diseases and creating potential new therapeutic avenues for human diseases.

Fig. 1. Functional roles of viral biomolecular condensates. (Sagan SM, et al., 2023)

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Pathogens such as viruses can use biomolecular condensates to more effectively hijack host cells and evade the host innate immune self-defense system. We provide Flory-Huggins polymer solution theoretical models to analyze the coalescence and phase separation of specific components (e.g., viral nucleoproteins or nucleocapsids) of a wide range of viral genomes, including rabies virus, stomatitis virus, ebola virus, respiratory syncytial virus, nipah virus, measles virus, rotavirus, influenza virus, coronavirus, and SARS virus, etc. In addition, working closely with leading international virologists and biophysicists, our technical team is actively designing experimental strategies to control virus phase separation in living cells.

As one of the leading service providers of biomolecular condensates, CD BioSciences offers professional services to analyze biomolecular condensates in infectious diseases, especially viral replication condensates formed by SARS-CoV-2 virus, HIV-1 virus, and herpesvirus via LLPS.

• Analysis of LLPS in SARS-CoV-2 Infection
  SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus that has caused a global pandemic of coronavirus disease in 2019. We can analyze the functions performed by the nucleocapsid protein of SARS-CoV-2 virus through LLPS, including participation in transcription, replication, and packaging of the viral genome.
• Analysis of LLPS in HIV-1 Infection
  HIV-1 and other retroviral proteins have intrinsically disordered structural domains that promote protein co-condensation and confer liquid-like behavior on the resulting condensates. We can analyze HIV-1 viral condensates and develop new points of intervention to reactivate latent HIV-1 infected cells.
• Analysis of LLPS in Herpesvirus Infection
  Herpesvirus infections are a group of viral infections caused by different types of herpesviruses. We provide advanced technologies to analyze the LLPS properties of herpesvirus proteins and their impact on viral replication. Our technical team is focused on developing anti-herpesvirus strategies that target LLPS.

Our virologists have performed extensive mutation and deletion analysis of multiple viral anti-terminators and nucleocapsid proteins, identifying their binding partners. In addition, they are focused on developing synthetic small molecules or antiviral drugs that target these proteins.

Joint exploration with our virologists, cell biologists and biophysicists to unravel the mysteries of viral phase separation to address viral-derived and non-infectious diseases associated with abnormal phase separation. If you have any special requirements for our services, please feel free to contact us. We are looking forward to working together on your attractive projects.