Bruce W. Chesebro, M.D., Chief
The Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases (LPVD) is concerned with studies of persistent active or latent viral or prion disease infections. Investigators place particular emphasis on persistent infections of the nervous system and of the hemopoietic and lymphoid systems. The laboratory is also studying the roles of persistent infection in the development of retrovirus-induced immunosuppression. Models being examined include prion diseases of various species, murine and human retroviruses, and tick-borne encephalitis viruses.
The major research goals of the laboratory are to understand basic pathogenic mechanisms induced by these infections, to study immune or other defense mechanisms used by infected individuals against infections, and to develop drug therapies capable of reducing or eliminating such infections.
Major Areas of Research
- Study of the nature of the transmissible agent responsible for prion diseases
- Study of the pathogenesis of prion diseases using biochemical, cell culture, and animal model methods
- Development of drug therapies for prion diseases
- Characterization of mechanisms of pathogenesis, immunosuppression, and immunity of retroviral infection in animals and humans with particular reference to infections involving hematopoietic cells and brain cells
- Study of genetic control of host defense mechanisms against retroviral diseases, including leukemia and CNS degenerative disease
- Study of the effects of viral genes on the pathogenesis of Langat virus and other members of the tick-borne encephalopathy family
- Study of the biochemistry of retroviral recombination with endogenous viral DNA as well as the generation of retroviral variants in different cell types
Office of the Chief
Bruce W. Chesebro, M.D.
Retroviral Immunology Section
Kim J. Hasenkrug, Ph.D.
Retroviral Molecular Biology Section
Leonard H. Evans, Ph.D.
Retroviral Neuropathogenesis Section
John L. Portis, M.D.
TSE/Prion and Retroviral Pathogenesis Section
Bruce W. Chesebro, M.D.
TSE/Prion Biochemistry Section
Byron Caughey, Ph.D.
TSE/Prion Cell Biology Section
Gerald S. Baron, Ph.D.
TSE/Prion Molecular Biology Section
Suzette A. Priola, Ph.D.
Veterinary Biology Unit
Richard E. Race, D.V.M.
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