Our research goal is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of viral
virulence factors, and to develop highly efficacious and safe vaccines
and antivirals for pathogenic RNA viruses. Our current research interest
includes basic studies and countermeasure developments against several
pathogenic bunyaviruses including Rift Valley fever virus, Severe Fever
with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome virus, Heartland virus, and Oropouche
virus: e.g., vaccine developments, antiviral screening, and
characterization of host-virus interactions. Those bunyaviruses are
maintained by arthropod vectors such as mosquitoes, ticks, or biting
midges, while their virological phenotype and virulence can be altered
by genetic reassortments of genomic S, M, and L RNA segments with those
of other bunyaviruses. The S segment encodes nonstructural S (NSs)
proteins, which support viral replication by inhibiting host antiviral
immune responses. Some bunyaviral M segments also encode nonstructural M
(NSm) proteins, while the biological functions are largely unknown. Our
team is highly skilled in reverse genetics approach for bunyaviruses,
by which we could generate recombinant bunyavirus strains with NSs
and/or NSm gene knockouts. Using high containment facilities at UTMB, we
evaluate viral attenuation and virulence in appropriate animal models
for vaccine and pathology studies.