Department of Pathology

Research Interests

My research focuses on the characterization of mutations made in the envelope protein of West Nile virus, and their role in pathogensis.

Research Interests

My research focuses of the molecular mechanisms of innate immune evasion of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome virus (SFTS virus) as well as the innate immune evasion of other arthropod-borne viruses.

Leadership and Awards

Leadership:

• 2018 – Treasurer for the Committee for Career Development
• 2018-2019 – Member of the SGA Budget Advisory Committee

Awards:

• McLaughlin Scholar
• 2019 – Satish Srivastava Scholarship Award

My research interest focuses on the early immune response to infectious disease, particularly the role of dendritic cells. My interests also lie in the rapidly emerging field of neurogenic inflammation, specifically how the neurogenic inflammation of arthropod bites can shape the overall immune response to pathogens. I am currently investigating these two areas in the context of Orientia tsutsugamushi infection.

McLaughlin Scholar
Research Interests

I am interested in the role of yellow fever virus structural proteins in virulence and the molecular determinants of attenuation of the yellow fever vaccine strain 17D.

Leadership and Awards

2019 - UTMB Representative, UT System Student Advisory Committee
2019 - Student Representative, Future of Graduate Education Action Committee, UTMB
2018 - Executive President, Student Government Association, UTMB
2018 - Member Search Committee, Provost/Dean of School of Medicine, UTMB
2018 - Executive President, Experimental Pathology Student Organization, UTMB
2017 - Executive Vice President, Experimental Pathology Student Organization, UTMB
2017 - Executive Secretary, Student Government Association, UTMB
2017 - Executive Treasurer, Graduate Student Organization, UTMB
2016 - Executive Secretary, Graduate Student Organization, UTMB

Presidential Scholar
Leadership and Awards
2019 - Member of ExPath Exec committee
2019 - Senator of Student Government Association (SGA)
2019 - ExPath Curriculum Committee Member

I am interested in emerging and re-emerging viruses from the molecular level through public health implications. I currently work on Yellow Fever Virus and my project focuses on determining the molecular differences of the non-structural proteins between the wild type and vaccine strain viruses.

Leadership and Awards

June 2019 - Graduate Student Organization (GSO) Secretary

Research Interest

My interests are focused on the development of vaccines, antibodies, and small molecule treatments for viral hemorrhagic fevers such as Ebola, Marburg, and Lassa virus.

McLaughlin Scholar

Research Interest

My research is focused on utilizing a ‘One Health’ approach for developing a vaccine against Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever virus by exploiting tick-host-pathogen interactions.  

Research Interests

My research is focused on the molecular mechanisms of lung inflammation during tuberculosis and HIV co-infection.

Leadership and Awards

2019 - Vice President ExPath Student Organization
2018 - Student Government Association (SGA) Executive Secretary
2017 - SGA Senate Chair
2017 - Graduate Student Organization Secretary
2016 - SGA Senator for GSBS
2016 - Graduate Student Organization ExPath Program Ambassador 

Research Interests

My interests are focused on neuropathogenesis of viral infections. I am focusing my research on neurotropic flaviviruses, specifically tick-borne encephalitis virus.

Presidential Scholar
Research Interests

My research is focused on understanding how the obligately intracellular bacterium Ehrlichia chaffeensis facilitates infection of the host mononuclear phagocyte through protein mimicry of components of evolutionarily conserved eukaryotic cell signaling pathways.

McLaughlin Scholar
Research Interests

My research focuses on filovirus replication and transcription. Effects of the innate immune response and viral interferon antagonism on filovirus polymerase function. Comparative immunology of pteropoid fruit bats in the context of filovirus infection.

Presidential Scholar
Research Interests

My research is focused on the pathogenesis and sequelae of hemorrhagic arenavirus infections as well as the development of live attenuated vaccine candidates.

Leadership and Awards

2019 - Member of Pathology Student Executive Committee
2019 – Received TL1 Training Grant
2018 – Received Leroy Olson, PhD Endowed Scholarship

Publications

Sattler RA, Maruyama J, Shehu NY, Makishima T, and Paessler S. Current Small Animal Models for LASV Hearing Loss. Curr Opin Virol. 2019. 37: 118-122. Doi: 10.1016/j/coviro.2019/08.001. PMID: 31479989

My research is focused on the identification of Mycobacterium spp. genes and protein products that facilitate host immune invasion.

Research Interests

I am interested in determinants of attenuation in flaviviruses, particularly in regards for use in live attenuated vaccines.

Leadership and Awards

2017 – 2019 - GSBS Senator, Student Government Association
2018 - UTMB Representative, UT System Student Advisory Council