Maria João Amorim, a researcher at the Católica Biomedical Research Centre (CBR), has been awarded a European Research Council (ERC) Proof of Concept (PoC) Grant to develop an innovative approach to combating influenza A virus. The project aims to create a new class of antiviral drugs capable of blocking viral replication through a mechanism distinct from currently available treatments, opening new avenues for tackling seasonal influenza outbreaks and antiviral resistance in Europe.
Influenza A virus is responsible for seasonal epidemics that cause between three and five million severe cases and up to 650,000 deaths each year. It also has significant pandemic potential, having caused four pandemics since 1900.
“The project, which we have named LOFlu_TREAT, represents a radical departure from the traditional design of antiviral drugs,” says Maria João Amorim, project leader and head of CBR´s Cell Biology of Viral Infection Laboratory. “Rather than inhibiting enzymatic functions—which viruses can often overcome through mutations in the RNA encoding viral enzymes and other proteins—our strategy targets the physical properties of viral structures. This opens an entirely new therapeutic modality in the field of antiviral drugs,” she explains.
The project builds directly on breakthroughs achieved through the ERC Consolidator Grant LOFlu, previously awarded to Maria João Amorim. That research demonstrated for the first time that increasing the rigidity of these viral structures can block influenza virus infection in both cells and animal models.
One of the project’s main objectives is to reduce the risk of drug resistance, one of the greatest limitations of currently available antiviral therapies. To achieve this, the team will develop a range of molecules known as vRNP-clips, which can be used in combination, making it significantly more difficult for the virus to develop escape mechanisms. “By combining different molecules that target distinct viral structures, we substantially increase the barrier to the emergence of treatment-resistant variants, thereby enhancing long-term therapeutic effectiveness,” says Maria João Amorim.
Another major advantage of this approach is its high specificity. Because these viral structures exist only in infected cells, vRNP-clips act exclusively on viral components, minimizing effects on healthy cells and reducing the likelihood of adverse side effects.
The potential impact of this research extends well beyond influenza. Researchers at CBR have identified similar structures in other pathogens, including the viruses responsible for Ebola, rabies, HIV, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). If successful, this strategy could pave the way for the development of a new generation of antiviral drugs applicable to a wide range of infectious diseases.
Beyond its therapeutic potential, LOFlu_TREAT will deepen our understanding of viral replication mechanisms, the biology of biomolecular condensates, and novel approaches to drug discovery, demonstrating how fundamental research can generate practical solutions to global health challenges.
The project will run for 18 months and has received €150,000 in funding. During this period, the research team aims to advance the technology to the preclinical validation stage, bringing it closer to future clinical trials in humans.
👉 For more information, visit: www.cbr.fm.ucp.pt