People Type: Former Predoctoral Trainee

Biography Research Title: Structure and Dynamics of the Encephalomyocarditis Virus Leader Protein in Deregulation of Host Nucleocytoplasmic Transport Research Description: Valjean Bacot-Davis’ research project involved the main anti-host protein of Encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV), known as the Leader (L) protein, and its activity in interferon inhibition during virus infection. While supported by this Virology Training Grant, …

Biography Research Title: Exploiting Species-Specific Blocks to Disrupt HIV-1 Gene Expression Research Description: HIV-1 production is limited in cells derived from mice and other rodents reflecting species-specific incompatibilities between viral regulatory proteins and host cell machinery. One such incompatibility was recently attributed to a structural feature of the murine version of CRM1 (mCRM1), a nuclear …

Biography Research Title:  Risk of Environmental Exposure to Emerging Bat Viruses in Uganda Research Description: Andrew Bennett’s research investigates the ecology and epidemiology of emerging viral zoonoses. He seeks to understand the upstream drivers of emerging infections through the study of viral dynamics in human and animal populations. Andrew has worked to improve differential diagnostics …

Biography Research Title: Baculoviruses Manipulate the Host DNA Damage Response and Apoptosis to aid Virus Multiplication Project Summary: Nathaniel Byers investigated the interactions between viruses and their host cells that determine cell fate and virus pathogenesis.  In particular, he studied how DNA viruses trigger apoptosis by engaging the host’s DNA damage response (DDR).  Because of …

Biography Research Title: Epstein-Barr Virus Late Gene Regulation: a Viral Pre-Initiation Complex Links RNA Transcription to DNA Replication Research Description:  The oncogenic human γ-herpesvirus, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), exists in two states in infected cells: latent infection and lytic reactivation. EBV latency is characterized by expression of a limited number of gene products and is linked to …

Biography Research Title: Determinants of Immunodeficiency Virus Pathogenesis – Nature meets Nurture Research Description: Adam Ericsen’s project focused on understanding the complex relationship between a pathogen and its host specifically using macaque monkeys infected with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV). Adam combined whole genome sequencing and 16S ribosomal DNA sequencing of peripheral blood with immunophenotyping (flow …

Biography Research Title: Characterization of Stabilizing Mutations in the H5N1 Hemagglutinin Influenza Protein Research Summary: To identify mutations in an influenza virus H5 hemagglutinin (HA) protein that affect protein stability, Anthony Hanson and members the Kawaoka laboratory created an H5 HA virus library with random mutations in the extracellular domain of HA. They used PCR …

Biography Research Topic: Expression of Epstein Barr Virus Latency Genes Research Description: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) positive epithelial cancers, such as gastric carcinomas and nasopharyngeal carcinomas, have been difficult to study in part due to the lack of a ‘normal’ keratinocyte cell line that can be efficiently infected by EBV and then harbor and replicate the …

Biography Research Title: The Contribution of UL97 Viral Cyclin-dependent Kinase Activity to HCMV Infection Research Summary: Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a pathogen of worldwide importance, infecting the majority of the world’s population and causing diseases as varied as birth defects and atherosclerosis, with current research implicating HCMV for a contributory role in glioblastoma. One of …

Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society 2015 SciMed GRS Graduate Research Scholar 2012 Biography Research Title: The Role of EGFR in HPV-associated Cancers Research Description:  Research in the Kimple Laboratory (September 2013-May 2014): Human papillomavirus (HPV) plays an etiologic role in a growing subset of head and neck cancer (HNC) patients and is likely to …