Fatima Ali

Title: Morbidity and Mortality Associated with Cytomegalovirus Infection in Liver Transplant Recipients – Structural Characterisation of a Putative Cytomegalovirus Drug Target

Summary: I really enjoyed endocrinology and hepatology at medical school and I feel very passionate about transplant medicine and the need to make it safer for recipients.

Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in liver transplant as it can be reactivated when the immune system is badly compromised – immune suppression is vital in the transplantation process and it is highly prevalent within the population. LUNA is a protein which is produced in cells infected with HCMV and it is surmised that LUNA is implicated in the reactivation of HCMV. The overall aim of the research was attempting to find a way to ‘switch off’ the activity of this protein.

My project was working towards building a 3D structure of the LUNA protein in order to better find a way in which therapies can be used to de-activate it.

My work was on perfecting an expression system within bacteria, where the bacteria produce the LUNA protein. This protein can be extracted and purified to produce large quantities of LUNA which we shall then crystallise and use X-Ray to give us a diffraction pattern on which to build the 3D model.

It is a long and complicated process but a potential game changer for the field of transplant medicine which is an incredibly exciting thing.