Tumor Viruses

Description of projects available to graduate students:
Our laboratory performs basic and applied research on viral oncogenesis based on our discovery of two different human cancer viruses. Our lab is jointly run by Pat Moore (MMG) and Yuan Chang (Pathology).

There are three areas of research:

1. Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) and Merkel cell polyomavirus. We recently discovered a new human polyomavirus causing a skin cancer and called Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV). For MCV, we are investigating:
-Cap-dependent translation regulation by MCV
-Role of pp2A and Akt/mTOR in the viral lifecycle
-Examination of E3-ligases targeted by MCV
-RB-targeting and survivin oncoprotein regulation
-Mechanisms of MCC cell death initiated by T antigen knockdown
-Transgenic MCV T antigen mice


2. Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). We are investigating biologic properties of KSHV--the eighth human herpesvirus--also discovered in our laboratory.

We are investigating alternative translation isoforms for the KSHV LANA1 oncoprotein, as well as KSHV programmed frame-shifting.

3. New pathogen discovery. We continue to be interested in the search for new pathogens digital transcriptome subtraction (DTS), a high-throughput sequencing approach.

We have a lot of projects that are appropriate for rotation/thesis work and the latest information can be found by checking on publications on our website at http://www.tumorvirology.pitt.edu.

Techniques graduate student will learn:
454 pyrosequencing and bioinformatic analysis of sequence datasets, western blotting, FACS, transient transfection studies, Southern and northern blotting, real-time PCR, stable transfection studies, Stable and transient gene expression in knockout cell lines, RNAi as well as standard gene manipulation and tissue culture techniques.