Mechanisms of Viral Replication

Viruses infect and replicate in all types of life forms, impacting health and disease in a myriad of ways. For viruses to successfully replicate, they must utilize host cell factors and processes as well as counteract host innate and adaptive immune responses. Our faculty and trainees in virology investigate different aspects of DNA and RNA virus replication in order to understand how viruses modulate and exploit the host environment to favor their own expression, assembly and infectivity, and to define the critical host responses that control infection. Basic knowledge of viral and host factors regulating viral replication is used to inform prevention and therapeutic approaches.

Research is supported by the Advanced Technology Cores, Alkek Center for Metagenomics and Microbiome Research, the Center for Drug Discovery, the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Texas Medical Center Digestive Disease Center and the Vaccine Research Center.