Student Science Conference

The Annual Student Science Conference showcases projects and research done by Red Deer Polytechnic students in science courses. Everyone is welcome to attend!

Keynote Speaker - Dr. Michael T Woodside

Join Dr. Michael T Woodside, Department of Physics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, and Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta

April 4 | 5:45 PM - 7:15 PM
Margaret Parsons Theatre (1400)

Presentation:

Studying viral RNA structures as drug targets: from single-molecule biophysics through computation to virology

The recent pandemic emphasized the risks posed to public health by RNA viruses and underscored the need for new antiviral drugs. One set of targets that remains underexploited for developing drugs is the RNA in viral genomes: all existing antivirals target proteins, yet the genomes of RNA viruses contain many unusual or unique structures that drugs could potentially target. I will discuss our studies of knot-like structures that seem to be unique to viral RNAs, making them excellent drug targets. One such structure in viruses like Zika, dengue, and West Nile is able to turn the defenses of infected cells back against them. Using laser tweezers, we showed that these structures act as mechanical roadblocks to prevent cellular enzymes from digesting the viral RNA, and we identified which interactions to disrupt to disable the viral structures. Another such structure plays a crucial role in regulating gene expression in coronaviruses by stimulating ribosomal frameshifting, which changes how ribosomes read the genetic code. Using a combination of computational and experimental methods at the intersection of physics, chemistry, and biology, we modeled the structures of these RNAs and discovered multiple drug candidates that are effective at reducing frameshifting in a broad range of coronaviruses and suppressing infectivity of the virus causing COVID-19.

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