Research Abstract

My laboratory is interested in the pathogenesis of virus-induced leukemia. In particular, we study the mechanism of infection by retroviruses that cause leukemia in mice. As part of these studies, we have identified the receptors that these viruses use to gain entry into cells. Our focus is now on determining how viruses recognize and bind to these receptors and how receptor function is altered in virus-infected cells. Our goal is to understand the entry mechanism in sufficient detail to design small molecules that inhibit infection and to alter the virus to redirect infection for the purposes of virus-directed gene therapy.

Publications

• Chandran K, Sullivan NJ, Felbor U, Whelan SP, Cunningham JM.Endosomal proteolysis of the Ebola virus glycoprotein is necessary for infection.Science 2005 Jun 10;308(5728):1643-5.
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• Smith JG, Mothes W, Blacklow SC, Cunningham JM.The mature avian leukosis virus subgroup A envelope glycoprotein is metastable, and refolding induced by the synergistic effects of receptor binding and low pH is coupled to infection.J Virol 2004 Feb;78(3):1
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• Davey RA, Zuo Y, Cunningham JM.Identification of a receptor-binding pocket on the envelope protein of friend murine leukemia virus.J Virol 1999 May;73(5):3758-63.
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