Research Interests
The primary focus in my laboratory is the herpesvirus,
human cytomegalovirus. Cytomegalovirus infection is extremely
prevalent, with approximately 80% of the population demonstrating
evidence of infection. In the majority of individuals, infection
is asymptomatic. However, in people with insufficient immune responses,
cytomegalovirus infection is associated with severe and often
fatal disease. Some examples include mental retardation or deafness
in newborn infants, pneumonia in bone marrow transplant recipients
and retinitis in people with AIDS. My laboratory is interested
in understanding, at a molecular level, the events that are required
for viral gene expression and replication and ultimately, the
events responsible for the pathology seen following infection.
Human cytomegalovirus synthesizes several proteins that enable the virus to
escape detection and elimination by the immune system. The viral US3 gene
retains major histocompatibility complex class I molecules in the endoplasmic
reticulum, thereby delaying the presentation of viral antigens to the host's
cytotoxic T cells. My lab has been interested in the regulation of US3
expression and the function of the US3 proteins. We have identified a DNA
element in the US3 gene that causes expression of the US3 gene to be shut off.
A viral protein, encoded by the UL34 gene, binds to the DNA element. We are
currently investigating how UL34 regulates US3 expression. For further
information, please email me.
More complete discussion of my research
interests.
Recent publications.
email Bonita Biegalke
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