RESEARCH

Smallpox was responsible for devastating epidemics throughout human history, and monkeypox is emergent as a potentially serious zoonotic threat. In addition to the clinical ravages of infection, poxviruses (including smallpox, monkeypox and vaccinia) exert a dramatic effect on the host cell at the molecular level. Poxviruses have evolved to disrupt the intricate machinery involved in host mRNA transcription and translation.

Research on poxviruses (vaccinia, monkeypox and smallpox) focuses on poxviral modulation of intracellular host processes, particularly interaction with host mRNA regulation. We use poxviruses as a tool to probe mechanisms for regulating host cell mRNA transcription, translation and decay. In addition, we have mapped the poxvirus transcriptome at base pair resolution and are simultaneously studying both poxvirus and host transcription and translation.

We also are studying host-pathogen immune interaction utilizing poxvirus infection and the primate immune response as a model, and have projects focused on interaction of monkeypox with host innate immune responses. We use biochemical and cell biological methods in cultured cells, as well as samples from non-human primate models of smallpox and monkeypox infection.

Work on filoviruses (Ebola and Marburg virus) centers around filovirus modulation of host interferon defenses, the role of the endothelium during viral hemorrhagic fever, and therapeutics for Ebola and Marburg infection.

The lab also has a field site in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in collaboration with USAMRIID and UCLA School of Public Health. There, the lab studies human monkeypox, as well as pathogen surveillance and discovery of unidentified pathogens.

With the exception of vaccinia, all live viruses remain at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia and the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, in Frederick, Maryland.

Email : rubins at wi.mit.edu

Tel : 617.324.4354