A5083661191- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research
- COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
- Long-Term Effects of COVID-19
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- RNA regulation and disease
- Plant Virus Research Studies
- HIV Research and Treatment
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- Virology and Viral Diseases
- Autophagy in Disease and Therapy
- RNA Interference and Gene Delivery
- T-cell and B-cell Immunology
- Vector-Borne Animal Diseases
- Dengue and Mosquito Control Research
- COVID-19 epidemiological studies
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Virus-based gene therapy research
- Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
2024
National Institutes of Health
2024
United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases
2020-2024
George Mason University
2017-2020
The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 has created an international health crisis, and small animal models mirroring human disease are essential for medical countermeasure (MCM) development. Mice refractory to infection owing low-affinity binding the murine angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) protein. Here, we evaluated pathogenesis in male female mice expressing ACE2 gene under control keratin 18 promoter (K18). In contrast nontransgenic mice, intranasal exposure K18-hACE2 animals different doses...
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is an important human pathogen. In cell culture, CCHFV sensed by the cytoplasmic RNA sensor retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) molecule and its adaptor mitochondrial antiviral signaling (MAVS) protein. MAVS initiates both type interferon (IFN-I) proinflammatory responses. Here, we studied role plays in infection mice presence absence of IFN-I activity. MAVS-deficient were not susceptible to when was active showed no signs disease. When...
Nanotrap® (NT) particles are hydrogel microspheres developed for target analyte separation and discovery applications. NT consist of cross-linked N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAm) copolymers that functionalized with a variety chemical affinity baits to enable broad-spectrum collection retention proteins, nucleic acids, pathogens. have been previously shown capture enrich arboviruses including Rift Valley fever Venezuelan equine encephalitis viruses. Yet, there is still need enhance the detection...
Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) causes moderate flu-like symptoms and can lead to severe encephalitic disease potentially death. There are currently no FDA-approved therapeutics or vaccines for human use, understanding the molecular underpinning of host-virus interactions aid in rational design intervention strategies. The significance our research is identifying interaction between protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) viral capsid protein. This important replication, as inhibition PP1...
Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) is a positive sense, single-stranded RNA and member of the New World alphaviruses. It causes biphasic febrile illness that can be accompanied by central nervous system involvement moderate morbidity in humans severe mortality equines. The has history weaponization, lacks FDA-approved therapeutics vaccines humans, considered select agent. Like other viruses, VEEV replicates cytoplasm infected cells eventually induces apoptosis. capsid protein, which...
Protein phosphorylation plays an important role during the life cycle of many viruses. Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) capsid protein has recently been shown to be phosphorylated at four residues. Here those studies are extended determine kinase responsible for and importance viral cycle. Phosphorylation site prediction software suggests that Kinase C (PKC) is VEEV capsid. co-immunoprecipitated with PKCδ, but not other PKC isoforms siRNA knockdown PKCδ caused a decrease in...
ABSTRACT The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 has created an international health crisis. Small animal models mirroring human disease are essential for medical countermeasure (MCM) development. Mice refractory to infection due low affinity binding the murine angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) protein. Here we evaluated pathogenesis in male and female mice expressing ACE2 gene under control keratin 18 promotor. In contrast non-transgenic mice, intranasal exposure K18-hACE2 animals two different...
Abstract Lassa virus (LASV) is a rodent-borne mammarenavirus that causes tens to hundreds of thousands human infections annually in Western Africa. Approximately 20% these progress fever (LF), an acute disease with case–fatality rates from ≈20–70%. Currently, there are no approved vaccines or specific therapeutics prevent treat LF. The LASV genome consists small (S) segment has two genes, GP and NP , large (L) L Z . In both segments, the genes separated by non-coding intergenic regions...
Viruses must parasitize host cell translational machinery in order to make proteins for viral progeny. In this study, we sought use signal transduction conduit against them by inhibiting multiple kinases that influence translation. Previous work indicated several involved translation, including p70 S6K, p90RSK, ERK, and p38 MAPK, are phosphorylated following Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) infection. Furthermore, S6K through treatment with the FDA approved drug rapamycin prevents RVFV...
Background Syrian hamsters infected with Andes virus (ANDV) develop a disease that recapitulates many of the salient features human hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), including lethality. Infection Hantaan (HTNV) results in an asymptomatic, disseminated infection. In order to explore this dichotomy, we examined transcriptome ANDV- and HTNV-infected hamsters. Results Using NanoString technology, kinetic transcriptional responses whole blood collected from Of 770 genes analyzed, key...
Abstract Guinea pigs serve as a valuable animal model for many aspects of infectious disease research. A primary limitation the guinea pig is lack robust toolbox to probe underlying immune responses in these animals. We developed an optimized 9-color flow cytometric assay immunophenotyping peripheral and tissue-associated cells pig. Using this assay, we can delineate CD45+ well monocyte macrophage populations, addition further differentiating lymphocyte populations B T cells. Importantly,...
The Ebola virus (EBOV) causes severe disease in humans, and animal models are needed to evaluate the efficacy of vaccines therapeutics. While non-human primate (NHP) rodent EBOV infection have been well characterized, there is a growing need for an intermediate model. Here, we provide first report small-particle aerosol (AE) ferret model progression compared with intramuscular (IM) ferrets by either route resulted uniform lethality 5–6.5 days post (dpi) dose-dependent manner, IM-infected...