Name of the project: Novel cholesterol reduction-based membrane lipid therapy against SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza A virus infection
Aim of the project:
COVID-19 and influenza continue to pose an ongoing significant health threat, and their prevention and treatment remain unresolved. The goal of the project is to demonstrate that cholesterol reduction-based membrane lipid therapy, which specifically targets lung epithelial cells, is extremely promising to combat SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens that exhibit cholesterol-dependent cellular entry, such as the influenza A virus. During the project, the potential clinical applicability of a new type of cholesterol-lowering compounds is emphasized. These compounds are capable of inhibiting the early, membrane-coupled steps of infection regardless of the virus variant, making them effective for both prevention and adjuvant therapy. To facilitate the clinical translation of the results, the group aims to develop nanoparticles specifically targeted to lung epithelial cells by targeting peptides.
Head of the group: Florina Zakany, MD, PhD
Name of the group: MTA–DE Lendület "Momentum" Membrane Lipid Therapy Research Group
Received funding: 282 141 000 HUF
Start of the project: 01/10/2026
End of the project: 01/10/2031
For more information, please contact Florina Zakany at florina.zakany@med.unideb.hu