Influenza: Searching for drug targets in the host

The influenza virus mutates at a remarkably high pace, allowing it to rapidly evade vaccines or drug treatments. Since human genes do not mutate as fast as viral genes do, our influenza research focuses on identifying the host factors that mediate influenza infection. The goal is to develop host-directed antivirals that will not lose their edge to drug resistance as quickly as classic antivirals. We are also developing rapid CRISPR diagnostics for influenza and other respiratory viruses.