Boston University · ChemistryMosquito-Borne Virus Therapeutics Lab
John A. Porco · Boston, Massachusetts
Research Focus
Dr. John A. Porco's lab at Boston University focuses on developing new antiviral drugs to combat mosquito-borne viruses like dengue, Zika, and chikungunya. By creating and optimizing small molecules called aglains that interact with specific host targets, the lab aims to improve treatment options for these diseases, which pose significant public health threats worldwide. The research combines medicinal chemistry with biology to better understand how these compounds work against viral infections.
antiviral agentsdengue virusZika viruschikungunya virusaglain derivativeshost-targeted therapeuticsmedicinal chemistry
Research Aims
4AIM 01Develop novel aglain derivatives as effective antiviral agents against dengue and other arboviruses.
AIM 02Optimize the chemical properties of aglains to improve their antiviral activity and pharmacological profiles.
AIM 03Identify the specific host target for aglain action and elucidate the mode of action of these compounds.
AIM 04Evaluate the efficacy and safety of lead compounds in murine models of DENV and ZIKV infections.
Skills the Lab Values
medicinal chemistrystructure-activity relationship (SAR) analysisbiochemical assaysX-ray crystallographydrug developmentin vitro and in vivo studiesviral infection modelsprotein purificationchemical synthesis
Output against the department
Publications554top 15% of dept.33rd of 216
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations19ktop 25% of dept.55th of 216
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.