Two researchers from the Department of Veterinary Medicine receive NWO ENW-XS grant
Grant for innovative ideas
Two researchers from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Utrecht University have been awarded an ENW-XS Open Competition grant from NWO. These grants, worth up to €50,000, are intended to support promising and innovative ideas. The research is pioneering, and it is not certain in advance whether the objectives will be achieved. The most important thing is that every result contributes to the advancement of science.
Mengying Liu
Virus spotter: A miniature cell surface screening platform to enable early detection of emerging viruses
Influenza and coronaviruses occasionally jump from animals to humans, causing devastating pandemics. To do this, the viruses must adapt so that they can bind to special sugars (glycans) on human cells. Understanding these adaptations enables early identification of potentially pandemic viruses but urgently requires new approaches. Current synthetic glycans poorly mimic genuine cell membrane sugars.
“I hope to provide new tools that strengthen our ability to anticipate and respond to emerging viral threats."
In this project, Mengying Liu will develop natural glycan-displaying cell membrane collections (“nanodisc libraries”) to identify genuine receptors of human and animal viruses. Her research aims to understand how animals viruses evolve to cause pandemics. A similar glycan-based screening method could also be used in the future for other purposes, such as the more precise detection of cancer markers.
Valentina Caliendo
High-flying outbreaks: redefining host susceptibility to Usutu virus
In this project, Valentina Caliendo investigates why some bird species, such as the Eurasian blackbird, die from Usutu virus infections while others remain unaffected. Current research relies on models that do not reflect this difference. The Usutu virus is an emerging zoonotic virus that is transmitted between mosquitoes and wild birds. Over the past ten years, it has caused mass mortality amongst Eurasian blackbirds.
“In this project, we will address the wild birds-Usutu virus interactions at a cellular level, and explain the interspecies differences in the infection pathway”
Caliendo will develop a new laboratory model using cells from susceptible and resistant bird species to study how the virus enters cells and how early immune responses differ. By focusing on the earliest stages of infection, she aims to uncover why some species are more vulnerable. The findings will improve our understanding of virus spread in wildlife and help predict risks of emerging mosquito-borne diseases.