Event

Abstract: We are interested in emerging and re-emerging viruses which include a number of different viral families. Many of these viruses are zoonotic, that is transmitted from animals to humans. One major group of RNA viruses that have historically emerged include the arthropod-borne viruses which are transmitted to humans from vector insects. In addition to arthropod-borne viruses, respiratory viruses are also a large group of emerging viruses including the recent spill over of SARS-CoV-2. Upon infection, viral RNAs are replicated, transcribed, translated, and packaged into new virions. We are interested in exploring the interface between these viral RNAs and the endogenous RNA machinery in host cells. In response to infection, organisms use cellular machinery to recognize the foreign invaders through the sensing of non-self antigens. Viral nucleic acids are sensed by our innate immune system and we are exploring the mechanisms by which cellular proteins and RNAs sense viral infection to activate antiviral pathways. I will discuss various facets of the interface between viral RNAs and cellular machinery that control infection including cellular RNA binding proteins and long non-coding RNAs that bind viral RNAs to block infection.

Cherry Lab

HIT-ID