Research

The Cortez Lab studies mucosal microbiology and immunology, with research focused on astroviruses, non-enveloped enteric RNA viruses that infect birds and mammals. Globally, human-infecting astroviruses are a major cause of diarrheal illness in young children, but little is known about their pathogenesis. Using a mouse model, we previously discovered that murine astrovirus infects goblet cells, which are specialized epithelial cells that secrete mucus. We now use in vitro and the in vivo models to study their host-microbe interactions at the mucosal surface and goblet cell biology, beginning with the following questions:

1) What molecular mechanisms mediate the cellular tropism(s) of astrovirus?

2) How does astrovirus alter goblet cell functions?

3) What role do astroviruses play during early childhood development of mucosal immunity?