
Professor Andrew Davidson
PhD, B.Sc (Hons)
Current positions
Professor of Systems Virology
School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine
Contact
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Research interests
Research activities in the laboratory focus on investigating the replication and pathogenesis of Dengue virus and coronaviruses (including MERS-CoV and feline coronavirus). High-throughput transcriptomic and proteomic approaches are being used to increase our understanding of the virus host interaction with an overall aim of developing improved antiviral agents, vaccines and diagnostics. Synthetic biology approaches are being used to produce a novel platform for future vaccine delivery.
Dengue virus
The dengue viruses are spread by mosquitoes and infect up to 390 million individuals annually in sub-tropical and tropical regions of the world. Dengue disease has emerged as the most important arthropod-borne viral disease of humans. Dengue virus infection generally results in dengue fever, a debilitating but self limited febrile disease. However, complications may arise, leading to the potentially fatal dengue haemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndromes (DHF/DSS). Despite intensive research over recent years, the pathogenesis of DHF/DSS is still poorly understood and there is neither a safe and effective vaccine nor suitable anti-viral treatments to control dengue disease.
Current investigations in the laboratory focus on understanding the role of specific viral proteins in the virus lifecycle and the role they play in perturbing host cellular processes. Our studies use a dengue virus reverse genetic system, in combination with structural, biochemical and high throughput transcriptomic and proteomic approaches to achieve these aims. The basic research approaches are also being translated to the analysis of clinical specimens from dengue infected patients with the overall aim of identifying prognostic biomarkers for dengue disease severity.
MERS coronavirus
Middle-East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a novel disease of humans that emerged in 2012, resulting in 2090 cases and 730 deaths to date (October, 2017). The etiological agent of MERS is a coronavirus which are enveloped, positive-strand RNA viruses that are commonly associated with enteric and respiratory diseases. In collaboration with Dr David Matthews we are using a high-throughput transcriptomic-proteomic approach to investigate the interaction of MERS-CoV with human, camel and bats cells to better understand virus pathogenesis.
Projects and supervisions
Research projects
Developing a robust self-disinfecting coating to reduce transmission of pathogens via touch surfaces in hospitals and beyond
Principal Investigator
Managing organisational unit
School of Cellular and Molecular MedicineDates
01/11/2024 to 31/07/2025
Functional dissection of the FFA-binding pocket of coronavirus spike protein
Principal Investigator
Managing organisational unit
School of Cellular and Molecular MedicineDates
01/10/2024 to 30/09/2027
MRC Proactive Vaccinology Call
Principal Investigator
Managing organisational unit
School of Cellular and Molecular MedicineDates
01/10/2023 to 30/09/2027
Exploring the Factors that Determine the Survival of Viruses in Aerosols and Droplets
Principal Investigator
Managing organisational unit
School of Cellular and Molecular MedicineDates
01/04/2022 to 31/03/2025
Common host proteins required for replication organelle function across coronaviruses
Principal Investigator
Managing organisational unit
School of Cellular and Molecular MedicineDates
01/03/2021 to 28/02/2023
Thesis supervisions
High-throughput proteomic analysis of the Dengue virus replication complex.
Supervisors
Investigation into the Role of the Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV) Envelope Protein in Viral Replication and Pathogenicity.
Supervisors
Establishing a Reverse Genetic System for Type 1 Feline Coronavirus
Supervisors
Investigation into the effects of a mutation in the dengue virus NS4B protein that confers a persistently-infecting phenotype
Supervisors
High-throughput proteomic analysis of the dengue virus secretome and the identification of plasma biomarkers of disease severity
Supervisors
Investigation and comparison of the human interactions of flaviviral NS5 protein
Supervisors
Publications
Recent publications
15/01/2025Examining the feasibility of replacing ORF3a with fluorescent genes to construct SARS-CoV-2 reporter viruses
Journal of General Virology
Ambient Carbon Dioxide Concentration Correlates with SARS-CoV-2 Aerostability and Infection Risk
Nature Communications
Broad-spectrum antiviral activity of two structurally analogous CYP3A inhibitors against pathogenic human coronaviruses in vitro
Antiviral Research
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) culture and sample preparation for correlative light electron microscopy
Methods in Cell Biology
The α-dystroglycan N-terminus is a broad-spectrum antiviral agent against SARS-CoV-2 and enveloped viruses
Antiviral Research