Asit K. Pattnaik, Ph.D.

Professor


Studies in the Pattnaik Laboratory focus on the molecular biology of replication, host cell responses, and immunopathogenesis of human and animal RNA viruses. The laboratory is also involved in studies towards the development of vaccines and antivirals against viral pathogens.

Using vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) as a model non-segmented negative-strand RNA virus, we have developed the reverse genetics system that allows us to manipulate the viral genome to: 1) examine the role of sequences within the viral genome that regulate transcription and replication processes 2) understand structure-function relationships of the viral proteins involved in genome replication, transcription, and virus assembly 3) generate and characterize recombinant viruses encoding heterologous viral proteins for vaccine development 4) understand the role of host cell functions in viral genome replication and pathogenic outcomes

With the use of an infectious cDNA clone of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) developed in our laboratory, we address questions related to the replication and pathogenesis of this economically important swine pathogen. These studies along with other ongoing studies in our laboratory position us to generate second-generation differential PRRSV vaccines by reverse genetic methods.

Following the emergence of the Zika virus (ZIKV) in the recent past, our research focus has been on understanding the immunopathogenic mechanisms of this virus. Using an infectious cDNA clone of the virus developed in our laboratory, we study the determinants of ZIKV neuroinvasion and virulence, the role of host cell signaling, and metabolic pathways that regulate the virus replication. Additionally, current attempts aim to develop antivirals and vaccine candidates for ZIKV using several different approaches.

Education

1984

Ph.D. Molecular Virology
Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia.

1978

M.S. in Life Sciences
Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, INDIA.

Professional Experience

2005 - Present

Professor, Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, NE.

2021- Present

Adjunct Scientist/Professor, Institute of Life Sciences
Bhubaneswar, India.

11/2002 - 2005

Associate Professor, Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, NE.

1999 - 2002

Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology
University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL.

10/1992 - 5/1999

Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology
University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL.

1987 - 1992

Research Associate, Department of Microbiology
University of Alabama at Birmingham Medical School, Birmingham, AL

1984 - 1987

Post-doctoral Fellow, Department of Microbiology and Immunology
UCLA School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, CA.

Research Publication

PubMed
Google Scholar

Honors

2022

Foreign Faculty Member at the Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar
India for the Visiting Joint Advanced Research Scheme of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India

July 2018

Guest Lecturer for a minicourse on “Vaccines Against Human Viral Pathogens”
Sponsored by the Government of India through the Global Initiative in Academic Network (GIAN) Program
Indian Institute of Technology, Indore, India

2015

Recipient of the Breakthrough Innovation of the Year Award, for Development of PRRSV Vaccine

2013

Honored for Outstanding Contribution in the Field of Molecular Virology
Recipient of J. B. Haldane Memorial Award, KIIT University, INDIA

1993

The Stanley Glaser Research Foundation Award, University of Miami

1980-1983

Postgraduate Research Scholarship, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia

1978-1980

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR, India) Fellowship
Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India