Poxvirus Gene and its role in viability, endosome tracking, and antigen presentation in activation of an immune response

Poxviruses exist throughout the world, and they cause disease in humans and animals. Smallpox killed around 500 million people just in the twentieth century and, although the naturally occurring smallpox virus was eradicated in the 1980s; samples of smallpox virus remain stored in laboratories and numerous poxviruses still infect animals and humans. Dr. Roper?s lab focuses on the mechanisms of viral virulence in mammals and what genes contribute to virulence. We have previously identified the poxvirus A35 and O1L genes as novel immunoregulatory virulence factors. This project further explores the effects of these genes on antigen presenting cells, specifically how these genes affect the viability and functions of cells after viral infection. It is possible that the genes may increase killing of virally infected immune cells and thus block their functions, or it is possible that the genes specifically interfere with aspects of antigen presentation by inhibiting functions of endosomes within the cells. These experiments will elucidate the effects of these virulence genes on immune cells.

Scholars @ ECU