Research Interest

Our research focuses on the functions of the viral immediate-early regulatory protein of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), which are members of the alpha- and beta-herpesvirus subfamilies and cause life-threatening disease in congenital infection and immunocompromised patients, respectively. Our goal is to gain a better understanding of the virus-host interaction at the cellular level by examining the molecular mechanisms underlying host antiviral defenses, including intrinsic and innate immune responses, as well as viral strategies to circumvent these host defenses. Additionally, we are extending our research into the interaction between the cellular ubiquitin (Ub) and ubiquitin-like protein (Ubl) modification systems and viral regulatory proteins during infection. We address the questions by utilizing a variety of cutting-edge technologies in molecular biology, biochemistry, and genetics. Our research will aid in our understanding of how viral proteins orchestrate viral gene expression and DNA replication during the progression of viral infection and modulate host functions in order to prepare infected host cells for the production of progeny viruses.

Current Projects:

- Identifying host restriction factors during virus infection

- Roles for Ub and Ubl in regulating viruses

- Screen of antiviral drugs from phytochemicals

- Genotypic and phenotypic diversity of VZV in herpes zoster patients

- Viral genome editing using the CRISPR technology

- Development of viral vector for gene therapy using herpesvirus and prototype foamy virus

- Development of rapid diagnosis tools for viruses

Lab Personnel 

Eui Tae Kim, Ph.D. Assistant Professor

Lab Alumni

Former Members

Grants