Our Team
Hebrew University
of Jerusalem
City University of
Hong Kong
Former members
Isaiah Arkin
Research Focus
Viral Ion Channels
Viral ion channels (a.k.a. viroporins) are a family of small membrane proteins found in many important viruses. As their name suggests, these proteins are able to conduct ions (mostly cations) and enable the pathogen to control or sense the salinity or acidity of its internal or external surroundings. In several instances, viroporins have been shown to be essential components in the viral replication cycle, and as such represent an attractive target for pharmaceutical inhibition.
In my group, we study viral ion channels using a variety of approaches such as bacteria-based assays, biophysical characterization using infrared spectroscopy, and molecular dynamics simulations. We identify inhibitors against these channels and then determine their anti-viral activity through tissue culture and animal studies.
