Elucidating virus-host interactions and viral immune evasion strategies using genetic editing and screening technologies
Summary
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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.