The Bonilla lab is pioneering innovative methods in cryo-electron microscopy and single-molecule biophysics to unravel the roles of RNA three-dimensional structures in the replication of flaviviruses, such as Dengue and Zika. By delving into these studies, the lab aims to uncover the molecular mechanisms that RNA viruses employ during infection, potentially guiding the development of antiviral therapies targeting virally-encoded RNA structures.
RNAs are incredibly versatile molecules, playing a wide range of roles in both cells and viruses. This versatility stems from RNA’s ability to form complex three-dimensional structures that interact with proteins and other molecules, regulating crucial biological processes. RNA viruses take advantage of these structures to hijack the host’s biochemical machinery and control the viral life cycle. The Bonilla lab seeks to understand the formation and function of RNA three-dimensional structures in viral processes.
