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COVID Research

A note about the COVID-19 pandemic:

CMM is adhering to all University of Arizona guidelines regarding COVID-19. You can learn more about the university's response to this crisis on the U of A Coronavirus Information Website.

We continue to support the education and training of current and prospective students by offering a large and growing list of online course options, including classes that have been traditionally offered only in person.

 

This diagram illustrates how certain asthma-related factors might reduce the ability of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to infect airway cells.

Vercelli Lab

The Vercelli Lab is studying the impact of asthma-inducing type-2 cytokines (primarily IL-13 ) and asthma-protective bacterial lysates on the expression of ACE2, the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor on human airway epithelial cells.

 

The image shows the molecular interaction between the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein (bottom) and the human ACE2 receptor (top).

Churko Lab

The Churko Lab is exploring the impact that SARS-CoV-2 plays on the heart. Specifically, their lab is exploring drugs that can block and facilitate SARS-CoV-2 entry into the heart.

 

The diagrams illustrate a validation study for Swab-Seq, a high-throughput sequencing method for detecting viral RNA (likely SARS-CoV-2), comparing it against standard RT-qPCR (N1 and N2 targets).

Cusanovich Lab

The Cusanovich Lab has been evaluating novel SARS-CoV-2 viral testing technologies that are cheaper, more scalable, and less resource-intensive than traditional assays. The group evaluated a sequencing-based assay called "Swab-Seq” and adapted it for use with less invasive saline gargle samples.

 

This image illustrates a mechanism related to the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Ledford Lab

The Ledford Lab has been working on a cross-departmental collaboration. A collaboration between the Drs. Ledford (CMM), Vercelli (CMM) and Kraft (DOM) shows that Surfactant Protein-A (SP-A) interacts with SARS-CoV-2. Early studies have shown that SP-A can bind to ACE2, the main receptor for SARS-CoV-2, which may prevent viral entry into respiratory cells and COVID infection.