Developmental Projects

DP001  Geballe

Viruses of the poxvirus family, such as the smallpox virus, have potential for abuse as agents of bioterrorism but also can be useful experimental systems for understanding molecular “arms races” between factors that cells make to defend themselves and those viruses make that allow them to evade host defenses.  Based on computer analyses of the patterns of changes in one of these host defense proteins (known as RNaseL) among various primate species, we predict that poxviruses have evolved a protein that can block the RNAseL system. Using several experimental approaches, we plan to identify this viral factor, knowledge of which may help design new therapies or improved vaccines.