Human-pathogen Protein Interactions Illuminated With Bioinformatics

Researchers at the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute (VBI) and the Department of Computer Science at Virginia Tech have provided the first global analysis of human proteins interacting with viral proteins and proteins in other pathogens. The scientists examined publicly available experimental data for 190 different pathogens that comprise 10,477 interactions between human and pathogen proteins. This approach provides a highly detailed network map of human proteins interfacing with proteins in different pathogens. The network of interactions reveals possible key intervention points for the future development of therapeutics against infectious diseases.