RNA Virus Gene Expression

Asit K. Pattnaik, Ph.D. - Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences - University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Research in our laboratory is directed at understanding of the mechanisms of transcription and replication of RNA virus genomes. As models, we use vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), a non-segmented negative-strand RNA virus in the order Mononegavirales, and the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), in the order Nidovirales. For both of these viruses, we have established reverse genetic systems that are being used to address the role of sequences in the viral genome as well as the viral proteins encoded in the genome that regulate gene expression in these viruses.