Elucidating virus-host interactions and viral immune evasion strategies using genetic editing and screening technologies
Summary
The research presented in this thesis concentrates on the examination of DNA and RNA viruses, employing state-of-the-art genetic tools: 1) by using a high throughput CRISPR/Cas9 library screen to discover new host genes involved in HSV-1 infection; 2) by using biochemical approaches to uncover a new heparan sulfate chain length regulator; 3) by applying the CRISPR/Cas9 system to modify clinical viral strains thereby generating single amino-acid substitutions in viral genes; 4) by employing next generation sequencing to study mixed infections of drug-resistant HSV-1 variants; 5) by using an arrayed SARS-CoV-2 cDNA library to identify a new immune evasion strategy employed by an RNA virus.