Viral Infections
Viruses are microscopic pathogens, just a fraction of the size of a bacterium, that consist simply of genetic material (DNA or RNA) and a container. Because they cannot replicate on their own, viruses invade host cells, commandeering the machinery needed for normal cell function. A large number of zoonotic illnesses (diseases that pass from animals to humans) are caused by viruses, including rabies, ebola, and recently emerging diseases such as avian influenza and the H1N1 “swine” flu.
Illness from viral infections can be prevented with vaccines, which prime the immune system to attack and clear invading pathogens; however, many viruses mutate rapidly, resulting in new strains that the immune system no longer recognizes. Viruses also have the ability to remain dormant within a host cell. During these times, the immune system is unable to recognize and destroy the invading pathogen. To develop novel antivirals, vaccines, and diagnostics—particularly for intracellular viruses, which are difficult for the body to attack—CEND researchers are pursuing numerous independent lines of virology research, both basic and applied.
Michael Botchan, Professor, Molecular and Cell Biology
- Structure of the papillomavirus DNA-tethering complex E2:Brd4 and a peptide that ablates HPV chromosomal association
Laurent Coscoy, Professor, Molecular and Cell Biology
- Immune Evasion by Herpesviruses
- Initial Events leading to Herpesvirus Persistence in Mouse Models
Jennifer Doudna, Professor, Molecular and Cell Biology
- Internal Ribosome Entry Site (IRES) RNAs in Hepatitis C virus
- RNA Recognition by Dicer Enzymes
- Mechanisms by which herpesviruses promote global decay of cellular mRNAs during lytic infection
- What cellular pathways and proteins are required to promote global cellular mRNA destruction by γ-herpesviruses?
- What is the role of host shutoff in the viral lifecycle?
- How do viral transcripts selectively evade turnover?
Britt Glaunsinger, Professor, Plant and Microbial Biology
Eva Harris, Professor, Infectious Disease
- Role of cis and trans factors in dengue virus translation
- Dengue reporter virus neutralization assay for clinical studies
- Antibody protection and enhancement of dengue virus in vivo
- Prospective cohort study of dengue transmission in Nicaragua
- Comparative genomics of dengue virus
- Assessment of existing dengue guidelines and evaluation of improved dengue clinical guidelines in Nicaragua
- Self-contained Electromagnetic Dengue Diagnostic Assay
- Nicaraguan Influenza Cohort Study
Fenyong Liu, Professor, School of Public Health
- Studies of Nucleic Acid-based Agents for Inhibition of Viral Replication
Arthur Reingold, Professor, Epidemiology
- Hepatitis B and C and Syphilis vulnerability related infections among institutionalized disadvantaged youth in São Paulo, Brazil
Bill Sha, Professor, Molecular and Cell Biology
- Control of B7h shedding by Toll-like receptors (TLRs)
- Is control of B7h expression a B cell-extrinsic mechanism involved in autoimmunity?
- Functional retroviral screens for host defense genes
Nilabh Shastri, Professor, Molecular and Cell Biology
- Molecular mechanisms that uniquely define cancer cells, microbial pathogens, and transplanted tissues as targets for the immune system
Qing Zhong, Professor, Molecular and Cell Biology
- Biochemical dissection of Autophagy pathway
- Autophagic responses to oncogenic stress, environmental toxicants exposure, and energy crisis.