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FRISC: The Faculty Research Interests Science Comparator |
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Assistant Professor, Microbiology
Molecular
Microbiology
Office: (214) 648-1439
FAX: (214) 648-5905
Email: wade.bresnahan@utsouthwestern.edu
Our laboratory is focused on understanding the molecular
mechanisms of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) replication and pathogenesis. HCMV is
a ubiquitous herpesvirus that infects greater than 80% of the population. Like
all herpesviruses, HCMV is capable of entering a state of latency, which
provides for life-long infection following primary exposure to the virus.
Clinically, HCMV is a serious pathogen that causes severe manifestations in
individuals with immature or compromised immune systems. The increasing use of
therapeutic immunosuppression, organ transplantation and the incidence of AIDS
have all focused attention upon understanding the HCMV life cycle, with a view
toward identifying approaches to attenuate primary and/or reactivated HCMV
infection. Our research has focused on three areas of HCMV biology that include:
1) the generation and characterization of HCMV mutants 2) a genomic approach to
study HCMV gene regulation, and 3) the virus/host cell interaction.
One of the main
interests in the laboratory involves using a genetic approach to identify
essential genes required for HCMV replication. This approach involves the
generation of HCMV recombinant viruses to elucidate the function of individual
HCMV genes. Currently, the function of most HCMV genes is not known. In fact,
only a handful of the 208 potential open reading frames of HCMV have been shown
to be essential for replication or assigned a function using a genetic approach.
We are in the process of systematically identifying essential genes for HCMV
replication using bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) and random transposon
mutagenesis technology.
A second area of
interest involves determining what role HCMV tegument molecules play during
replication. These tegument molecules are packaged within the virus particle and
delivered immediately upon infection to the host cell. Using an HCMV gene
array we have identified a subset of viral transcripts that are packaged within
the HCMV virion. The packaging and delivery of virion RNAs represents a
previously unrecognized mechanism of HCMV gene regulation. We are currently
investigating the function of these virion RNAs and dissecting the molecular
mechanism by which HCMV selectively packages these transcripts within the virus
particle.
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Last updated: 11 Oct 2001
Extraction Method: Expand using Medical Synonyms-
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Database: Medline abstracts (1967 - Present)
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