The discovery of silencing non-coding RNAs has dramatically changed our understanding of the regulation of gene expression. This has opened up a new area in the regulation of the immune response. Our research focuses on understanding the role of non-coding RNAs in virus infection and host defense pathways. We work with an array of diverse virus families including DNA tumor viruses and RNA viruses, as well as the enzyme DUSP11. DUSP11 is an RNA phosphatase that helps to regulate the innate immune response. Our goals are several-fold:
To understand the functions of viral and host-encoded non-coding RNAs and how they contribute to viral lifecycle and pathogenesis
To explore the functions and regulation of immunogenic non-coding RNAs
To uncover new mechanisms of gene regulation utilized by viruses and the host
To use viruses as "molecular divining rods" to probe for new classes of host defense pathways.
