Study of SARS-CoV-2 envelope adsorption on host cell membranes using mimetic models

• Grant number: 24/19172-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: May 30, 2025
• End date: May 29, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Luciano Caseli
• Grantee: Kevin Figueiredo dos Santos
• Supervisor: Elodie Boisselier
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Ambientais, Químicas e Farmacêuticas (ICAQF). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Diadema. Diadema , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Université Laval, Canada
• Associated to the scholarship: 23/13811-9 - Study of the interaction between SARS-CoV-2 envelope and host cell membrane using mimetic models, BP.PD

Abstract

The interaction between the SARS-CoV-2 envelope and the host cell membrane is central to viral infection. The first step in the virus's entry into cells involves the binding of the receptor-binding domain (RBD), a part of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein, to the cellular receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Due to the complexity of this biological process, one strategy to investigate these interactions is to use models that partially replicate these structures, enabling the extraction of molecular information that is difficult to obtain from the natural system. This project aims to employ liposomes (large unilamellar vesicles, LUVs) to mimic the SARS-CoV-2 envelope and lipid monolayers to simulate the host cell membrane. These models will be composed of the main lipid components from both the viral envelope and the host cell membrane. Additionally, we will investigate the attachment of the receptor-binding domain (RBD) and the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor to these systems. We will then analyze LUV adsorption on lipid monolayers, exploring potential correlations with the natural biological phenomenon. Furthermore, we will study the molecular interactions of these models with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), seeking to apply a drug delivery system to combat COVID-19. We expect the results to deepen our understanding of the interaction between the SARS-CoV-2 envelope and the host cell membrane, providing valuable insights for combating COVID-19.