Lebron Project
We are working on genome-wide screening and further characterization of four genes of Mycobacterium bacteriophage LeBron that are toxic when overexpressed in Mycobacterium. In order to further characterize toxic genes with no assigned function, we are performing a 2-hybrid selection assay to explore phage protein interactions with host bacterial proteins and understand the role of these genes in the process of phage infection. By linking phage genes to known cellular processes, we can gain insights into the biological importance of phage and bacterial interactions.
MCMV Project
Maize Chlorotic Mottle Virus (MCMV) is a positive-sense RNA virus that causes mottling/mosaicism in corn plants. Through cloning individual MCMV replication genes p50, p111, and p50*111 into yeast plasmids, we are able to express different combinations of MCMV’s viral proteins with sgRNA1 to determine which proteins are necessary for viral RNA replication. Using immunofluorescence microscopy, we are hoping to determine the site of viral replication within yeast cells and further understand the development of MCMV’s replication compartments.
BMV Project
Brome Mosaic Virus (BMV) is a positive-sense RNA virus that causes mosaicism in cereal plants. BMV creates vesicular invaginations in the endoplasmic reticulum of its host cells, called spherules, which are stabilized by proteins called reticulons. Two GTPase that are host proteins, Sey1 and Lnp1p, are thought to interact with these reticulons and affect spherule formation. Using yeast as our model organism, we are able to look at specific effects of Sey1 and Lnp1 on spherule formation and stabilization furthering our understanding of replication compartments in viral life cycles.