The labs of Professors Francis Impens and Lennart Martens at the VIB-UGent VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology have joined a new EU project, COMBINE, researching the Marburg virus (MARV). The project sets out to advance our understanding of how viruses enter cells, using MARV as a model, and to create a blueprint for identifying new targets for antiviral strategies – a critical cornerstone of pandemic preparedness.
COMBINE (“Comparative Signature of Marburg Virus Cell Activation as a Blueprint for the Identification of Antiviral Targets against Newly Emerging Viruses”) acknowledges that understanding how viruses infiltrate host cells is crucial to combating emerging infectious diseases. With viral disease emergence expected to accelerate, preparing for possible future pandemics is paramount. Beyond saving lives during outbreaks, robust pandemic preparedness safeguards economies, sustains societal functioning, and reinforces the resilience of global systems.
Coordinated by the German Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), COMBINE brings together seven partners from five European countries and will receive a total funding of 7.2 million EURO over the next five years through the European Union’s “Horizon Europe” Framework Programme for Research and Innovation.
Using the COMBINE approach, the team aims to establish the fundamental pre-clinical basis for the continued development of specific anti-MARV drugs and optimised MARV vaccines. Beyond unveiling crucial insights into MARV cell entry, the project will develop an innovative experimental pipeline for identifying and targeting proteins involved in the virus attachment process, a critical factor in combating viral outbreaks. COMBINE seeks to create a versatile, adaptable blueprint that facilitates cross-country collaborations to design novel drugs and vaccines against emerging viruses. The project will not only expand the knowledge of the Marburg virus cell entry and therapeutic options but also establish a technology pipeline that can be rapidly applied to other emerging viruses, strengthening global health security and readiness for future pandemics.
The Marburg virus, like Ebola virus, a member of the filovirus family, is a highly infectious and lethal pathogen with substantial epidemic potential. The virus occurs in fruit bats, widely distributed across Africa, and may also be transmitted between humans. Additionally, the virus’ incubation period, ranging from 2 to 21 days, allows for potential silent transmission by individuals who are not yet symptomatic, further complicating outbreak control efforts. The recent recurrent outbreaks of the Marburg virus, including in previously unaffected countries, coupled with the lack of a licensed vaccine or specific antiviral treatment and the virus’s high lethality, underscore the ongoing threat posed by the virus as well as the significant clinical and societal interest in developing suitable antivirals.