Principle Investigator:

Dr. Stefan Rothenburg

Assistant Professor for Virology and Immunology

Email: sr1hsv[at]ksu.edu

Projects

Importance of Host-Virus-Specific Interactions for Virus Host Range and Virulence

Evolution of the Host Innate Immune System and Interaction with Viruses

Characterization of Fish and Amphibian Viruses and their interactions with Antiviral eIF2α Kinases

Research Interests

The host innate immune system plays an essential role in detecting invading viruses and in initiating and orchestrating antiviral responses. In order to establish productive infections, viruses have to effectively inhibit this host response. This leads to an evolutionary arms race between the host and the virus.

Our research focuses on the interaction between viruses with the immune system of their hosts. We are studying how viral nucleic acids are detected in vertebrates, which antiviral pathways are activated and how viral molecules interfere with these processes.

Major research objectives are the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms that determine virus host range and virulence. Viral genes that are studied in our laboratory include those from poxviruses, influenza viruses, herpesviruses, iridoviruses, ebola virus and tumor viruses.

pictures (clockwise)

Rothenburg Lab members Fall 2012

Spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) in Rock Creek Park, MD (Photo by Stefan Rothenburg).

HeLa cell transfected with nucleic acid sensor ZBP1 fused to RFP (red) and  TIA-1 fused to GFP (green) (Photo by Stefan Rothenburg).

Enveloped Iridovirus (photo by Gopal Murti (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN), kindly provided by V. Gregory Chinchar (University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS).

Stefan Rothenburg in front of vernal breeding pool of Ambystoma maculatum in Rock Creek Park, MD (Photo by Stefan Rothenburg).

News:

Chen Peng received the James Ackert Award for best presentation by a junior graduate student at the annual Graduate Research Forum of the Division of Biology.

Sherry Haller won the second prize for best presentation in Biological Sciences 2, at the 18th Annual K-State Research Forum.

Wren Michaels and Carrie Remillard received “Most Promising Student” awards from the Division of Biology.