Research

Introduction

This laboratory studies the interactions between cellular structures and enveloped viruses. As obligatory parasites, viruses utilize a large number of host cell factors at various stages of their life cycle. Therefore, analyses of virus life cycle promise to increase our knowledge of not only viruses but also cellular machinery with which viral proteins interact.

We have been particularly interested in the roles played by the plasma membrane during particle assembly and spread of HIV-1 and influenza A virus.

Three major areas of research in this laboratory are (please click below) :

i) molecular mechanisms that direct viral components to the plasma membrane,

ii) mechanisms regulating assembly of viral components and effects of host factors, and

iii) relationships between virus assembly at the plasma membrane and subsequent virus spread.