Virus-X Objectives
Bioprospecting
The Virus-X project will employ sequence-based bioprospecting methodologies combining bioinformatics, functional analysis and structural biology (3D structure determination) to explore metagenomes of viruses in natural ecosystems and the encoded gene products.
Metagenomics toolbox
The Virus-X project puts emphasis on developing the metagenomics toolbox creating new toools to strengthen future efforts in the field. This includes new bioinformatics tools for sequence analysis and structure-function analysis of protein families.
Microbial Ecosystems
The Virus-X project will enhance the understanding of microbial communities and functional dynamics between viruses and microorganisms. The exploration of viruses in nature focuses on natural ecosystems in the ocean off the coast of Norway and geothermal areas (hot springs) in Iceland.
Invention to Innovation
Virus-X is a research and development plan ultimately leading to innovations and industrial value in the form of specific marketable products of viral origin, i.e. biocatalysts for biotech applications, as well as improved services in the field of bioinformatics and structural biology.
Virus-X Excellence
Virus-X is an exploration into the outer realms of biological sequence space
Biological sequence diversity is nowhere as apparent as in the vast sequence space of viral genomes. The VIRUS-X project will specifically explore the outer realms of this diversity by targeting the virosphere of selected microbial ecosystems and investigate the encoded functional variety of viral gene products. The project is driven by the expected large innovation value and unique properties of viral proteins, previously demonstrated by the many virally derived DNA and RNA processing enzymes used in biotechnology. Concomitantly, the project will advance our understanding of important aspects of ecology in terms of viral diversity, ecosystem dynamics and virus-host interplay. Last but not least, due to the inherent challenges in gene annotation, functional assignments and other virus-specific technical obstacles of viral metagenomics, the Virus-X project specifically addresses these challenges using innovative measures in all parts of the discovery and analysis pipeline, from sampling difficult extreme biotopes, through sequencing and innovative bioinformatics to efficient production of enzymes for molecular biotechnology. Virus-X will advance the metagenomic toolbox significantly and our capabilities for future exploitation of viral biological diversity, the largest unexplored genetic reservoir on Earth.

Virus-X Partners

A&A Biotechnology, Poland

BIO-PRODICT, The Netherlands

ArcticZymes, Norway

Saromics biostructures, Sweden

Max-Planck Institute, Germany

MATIS, Iceland

Pasteur Institute, France

University of Stuttgart, Germany

University of Gdansk, Poland

Bielefeld University, Germany

University of Bergen; Norway

Durham University, UK

Lund University, Sweden

University of Clermont Auvergne
Virus-X Funding
European Union Funding for Research and Innovation
Virus-X News & Blog

Virus-X Students
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3DM system to support COVID-19
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COVID-19 response by Virus-X
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Viruses 2020 – Novel Concepts in Virology: Another Success!
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EMBL fellowship to Virus-X student
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Virus-X champion shares her insight into the hunt for new enzymes
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Virus-X cover feature
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