The cellular basis of sex-specific responses to virus infection

This project aims to explore how the sex of cells impacts virus infections in culture. Using a unique model in which a virus can be adapted to grow better in cells of a single sex, the project expects to generate new knowledge about how sex differences impact virus-host interactions. Specific outcomes include new insights into sex-based differences in how cells detect and respond to virus infection, and the extent to which the sex of cells impacts viruses in general. This project has the potential to substantially influence the discipline of virology because to date, the sex of cells in culture has been overlooked as an important source of biological variability, but may be found to affect basic science through to anti-viral drug discovery.