LSUHSC -- Dept. of Microbiology and Immunology

Predoctoral Students

Christine E. Birdwell
B.A., Chemistry, 2009, University of North Texas
NEW STUDENT

Robert A. Charvat

B.A., Biology-Chemistry, 2006, Manchester College
Research: Defective interfering particles (DIP) of equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV) are capable of mediating a state of persistent infection. The DIP genome is comprised of an origin of replication, a cleavage/packaging sequence, and only three genes: UL3, UL4, and a unique gene that is a hybrid of portions of regulatory genes IR4 and UL5. The goals of this project are to assess the functions of the UL3 and UL4 genes in EHV cytocidal infection and to ascertain if over-expression of UL3 and/or UL4 in the context of the DIP genome contributes to the interference of infectious virus production mediated by DIP.

Russell W. Chisolm

B.S., Microbiology, 2010, Mississippi State University
NEW STUDENT

Samantha S. Cohen

B.S., Biology, 2009, Sul Ross State University
Research: My research focuses on the association between LMP-1 expression and the metastatic phenotype of EBV infected epithelial cells.

Carrie B. Coleman

B.S., Biology, 2002, The University of Tennessee at Martin
Research: Gammaherpesviruses cause infections of cells derived from the bone marrow, and are associated with numerous types of malignancies. Murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (gammaHV68) is genetically related to the human gammaherpesviruses, and provides a small animal model for mechanistic studies of the virus/host relationship in vivo. We are currently examining the role of infection of B cells and monocytes in the bone marrow, and the effects of this infection on the pathogenesis of viral infection. We are also defining whether these types of infections alter hematopoietic cell development and function, and determining whether these alterations are involved in the development of lymphoma.

David T. Coleman

B.S., 2006, Microbiology, Mississippi State University
Research: Prostate cancer continues to be one of the leading causes of cancer death to men in North America. Expression of the c-Met growth factor receptor and the enzyme Fatty Acid Synthase have individually been shown to correlate with prostate cancer progression toward aggressive disease. Our lab has identified a novel connection between the expression of the c-Met receptor and Fatty Acid Synthase activity. My work focuses on identifying the molecular mechanisms linking these two oncogenes as well as understanding the physiological significance of this link.

Donna K. Collins-McMillen

B.S., Biology 2009, Stephen F. Austin State University
Research: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) establishes a lifelong persistent infection in its host through viral spread to multiple organ sites. Monocytes are key cells for infection with HCMV and are thought to be involved
in viral spread via a hematogenous route. The focus of my research is to examine the molecular changes that
are promoted in target monocytes during infection that facilitate viral survival and dissemination.

Mindy L. Gore

B.S., Biological Sciences, 2004, Louisiana State University and A & M College
Research: The analysis of the roles of the BDLF2 and BMRF2 gene products in infection of B cells and epithelial cells by Epstein-Barr virus.

Alana L. Gray

B.S., Biology, 2008, The University of Texas at Tyler
Research: Under certain cellular conditions, lysosomes have been shown to traffic to the cell periphery and secrete proteases that can lead to tumor invasion and metastasis. My research focuses on determining mechanisms involved in lysosome trafficking, and identifying drug targets that prevent and reverse lysosome trafficking as a means of restricting tumor invasion.

Shannon M. Kahan

B.S., Microbiology, 2001, Texas A&M University
Research: Murine norovirus shows a tropism for dendritic cells and macrophages in vitro. The focus of my research is to characterize which subsets of cells, within distinctive compartments of the mucosal immune system, are permissive to infection, in vivo, in the presence and absence of type I interferon.

Mary E. Lazarus

M.S., Biology, 2005, The University of Louisiana at Monroe

Research: Basic aspects of the mechanism of pathogenesis of Group B Streptococcus will be examined.

Nicholas E. Martinez

M.S., Biology, 2009, Western Carolina University
Research: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease in the central nervous system. Although the precise etiology of MS is unknown, autoimmune responses as well as viral infection have been associated with the pathogenesis. I am investigating the roles of immune cells, including effector and regulatory cells, in demyelination and axonal degeneration using autoimmune and viral models for MS: experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus infection.

Aaron R. Navratil

B.S., Chemistry, 2010, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

NEW STUDENT

Michael S. Nealy

B.S., Biological Science, 2000, McNeese State University
Research: Gammaherpesviruses cause life-long infections in humans (latency), and are associated with numerous types of malignancies including lymphoma. Murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (gammaHV68) is genetically related to the human viruses, and provides a small animal model for mechanistic studies of the virus/host relationship in vivo. We are currently generating mutant viruses to use as tools to dissect the central role of latency in immune evasion and pathogenesis. The long-term goal of these studies is to better understand the mechanisms by which gammaherpesviruses cause life-long infection and disease.

Maciej T. Nogalski

M.Sc., Chemistry, 2004, University of Warsaw
Research: A hallmark of HCMV disease is a multiple organ system involvement that stems from the widespread dissemination of the virus within the infected host. Therefore, a critical feature of infection is the hematogenous dissemination of the virus. Our studies have identified that HCMV infects monocytes and induces their extravasation and differentiation into productively infected macrophages. We are currently investigating the HCMV-induced molecular changes in monocytes to better understand how these cells are involved in viral spread and disease.

Krista D. Queen

B.S., Biology, 2006, Louisiana State University - Shreveport
Research: Krista is investigating Epstein-Barr Virus induced epigenetic alterations in infected carcinoma cells.

Kathleen F. Richards

B.S., Biology, 2008, University of North Texas
Research: Human papillomaviruses are associated with 7% of cancers in women world-wide. Following attachment to heparan sulfate moieties present in the extracellular matrix and on cell surface both viral capsid proteins undergo conformational changes that can be sensed with monoclonal antibodies. My project involves defining these shifts in conformation at the molecular level, which will give a detailed understanding of the processes leading to interaction with the uptake receptor, infectious entry, and thus disease outbreak.

Emily V. Stevenson

B.S., Medical Technology, 2008, Louisiana Tech University

Research: Hematogenous dissemination of human cytomegalovirus in infected monocytes is essential for life-long viral persistence. The strategy human cytomegalovirus uses to promote spread from the blood in infected monocytes links viral persistence to viral-mediated disease. The focus of my research is to investigate the early mechanisms employed by the virus to trigger the biological changes in target monocytes that promote viral spread.

Ashley M. Studt

B.S., Microbiology, 2009, The University of Arizona
Research: Francisella tularensis is a facultative intracellular pathogen and the causitive agent of tularemia. The focus of my research is to investigate molecular mechanisms of prostaglandin E2 induction in macrophages infected with F. tularensis. Furthermore, I am interested in how activation of the arachidonic acid pathway aids in F. tularensis host immune evasion.

Elizabeth A. Trainor

B.S., Microbiology, 2007, Mississippi State University
Research: Helicobacter pylori causes a spectrum of diseases, including ulcers, gastritis, and gastric cancer. Factors such as genetics, environmental influences, and diet contribute to the development of disease. One environmental influence that has not been studied in detail is cholesterol. The goal of this research is to identify and characterize H. pylori proteins that respond to cholesterol and determine how these proteins affect H. pylori pathogenesis.

Sarah M. Valencia

B.S., Biology, 2002, The University of Missouri-Kansas City
Research: Epstein Barr virus infects primarily two cell types B lymphocytes and Epithelial cells. The purpose of my research is to examine and compare entry and intracellular transport of EBV within these two cell types.

Jessica L. Webb

B.S., Biology, 2010, Culver-Stockton College
NEW STUDENT