West Nile virus (WNV) is an important member of the Flavivirus genus, it is now the leading cause of epidemic encephalitis in the United States and continues to spread globally. Our experiments are designed to assess the virus and host interface that regulates the innate immune response and controls WNV pathogenesis, and will reveal novel targets for therapeutic development to suppress flavivirus infection.
This program is the synergistic collaboration between the Gale and Diamond laboratories. Leveraging the expertise of each group: the Gale laboratory is a leader in the field of innate antiviral immunity to RNA viruses including WNV and hepatitis C virus; the Diamond laboratory provides extensive experience on the pathogenesis of WNV.