Fourth-year Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) scholar, Justin Gnarra, is a co-author of a newly published review examining the way in which the molecular motors viruses
package their genetic material, perhaps offering new therapeutic strategies. A molecular motor in a virus is a tiny protein “machine” that uses energy to generate force at a microscopic level.
The article entitled, Multi-Homosubunit dsRNA/dsDNA Virus Genome Packaging Nanomotors with Sequential Revolving Mechanisms for Potent Drug Development, appeared in Frontiers in
RNA Research on September 3, 2026. The medical scholar contributed to the work under the mentorship of Dr. Tao Weitao, LECOM Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology.
The review compares viral genome-packaging motors with ATPases and ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, highlighting similarities in their structures and sequential mechanisms.
These molecular machines help perform essential tasks in cells and viruses. Thus, understanding their working mechanisms may reveal vulnerabilities that researchers can target.
A central concept in the article is the proposed Series-Circuit-Christmas-Bulb mechanism. Similar to a string of lights that goes dark when one bulb fails, the model suggests that inhibiting
a single subunit could disrupt the function of an entire multi-subunit complex. The authors discuss the way in which this idea could inform the development of targeted treatments for viral
infections; and potentially help to address drug resistance in cancer and infectious diseases.
The review brings together findings from structural and mechanistic studies to explore the way in which these shared features might guide future drug development. The proposed approach is a framework for research, rather than a treatment currently available to patients.
LECOM is deeply proud of Justin Gnarra’s contribution to this review and of the curiosity and dedication it represents. By supporting research that pushes the boundaries of knowledge, LECOM continues to nurture discoveries with the potential to shape future therapies and improve lives.