How does our body respond to a viral infection – and what long-term changes can an infection trigger in tissues? The new European doctoral network “MERIT” (MEtabolic Reprogramming in viral pathogenesis: From Infection to Therapeutic innovations) is investigating these questions from a holistic perspective. Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU) is participating in the international research network with DZL scientists Prof. Dr. Rajkumar Savai and Dr. Siavash Mansouri.
Funded by the European Union through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) with approximately €4.6 million, the network brings together research institutions from several European countries. Its aim is to better understand the complex interactions between viruses and human cells and to use these insights to develop new therapeutic approaches. At the same time, the project seeks to improve our understanding of the long-term consequences of viral infections and contribute to pandemic preparedness in Europe.
A central focus of MERIT is metabolic reprogramming: viruses can alter the metabolism of infected host cells to support their own replication. However, how these changes affect cells and surrounding tissues, and to what extent they may contribute to the development of diseases in the long term, remains poorly understood.
As part of MERIT, Prof. Dr. Rajkumar Savai, Professor of Lung Microenvironmental Niche in Cancerogenesis at JLU, leads the research project “Investigating the role of macrophages in the lung cancer niche”. The project aims, among other things, to investigate how viral infections affect the biology of the human body and, in particular, the complex interactions between different cell types within tissues.
“We are investigating what the virus does to the biology of the human body,” explains Prof. Savai. A key aspect is metabolic reprogramming – in other words, how viruses alter the metabolism of host cells and what long-term effects these changes may have on tissues.
To investigate these mechanisms, the research team combines several innovative approaches. Lab-grown mini-organs, known as organoids, make it possible to replicate conditions in human tissues as realistically as possible and directly investigate the effects of viral infections.
These approaches are complemented by spatial biology methods. So-called Spatial-Omics technologies allow researchers to link gene activity, proteins and metabolites to their precise spatial location within tissues. Advanced microscopy techniques also make it possible to visualise changes at the cellular level.
“Building expertise in spatial biology methods at JLU, particularly in the spatial analysis of genes, proteins and metabolites – so-called Spatial-Omics – gives us the opportunity to investigate chronic viral infections and their role in the development and progression of lung cancer at high spatial resolution,” says co-project leader Dr. Siavash Mansouri.
The aim is to develop a detailed picture of how viral infections act at the cellular level and what changes they trigger within tissues.
MERIT combines cutting-edge research with scientific training. As part of the MSCA Doctoral Network, doctoral researchers will be trained within an international research consortium and gain expertise in state-of-the-art methods and technologies. This will equip them with the skills needed to investigate emerging infectious diseases and develop novel therapeutic strategies.
“In this MSCA doctoral programme, we are pursuing an innovative training approach aimed at equipping researchers with state-of-the-art skills to respond to emerging infectious diseases,” says Prof. Savai.
MERIT is coordinated by Stichting Amsterdam UMC (AUMC). Further partner organisations are based in the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Poland and Austria. JLU is contributing to the international network through the research project led by Prof. Savai and Dr. Mansouri.
The European Union is funding the project with approximately €4.6 million in total, of which around €290,000 is allocated to JLU.
