The virology research cluster is directed by faculty from the Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics (CBMG) but is both interdepartmental and multi-institutional. We have combined the expertise of campus faculty as well as those from local institutes to create a truly unique, interactive group of scientists that includes faculty working on important plant, animal, and human viruses. Faculty affiliated with this research cluster aim to train students broadly with the goal of producing graduates who have an understanding and professional level of expertise that encompasses the full breadth of virology. Click here for more information about upcoming virology-related events and a list of current program members!
Graduate Courses Pertinent to Virology
- CBMG688K Molecular Virology
- CBMG688J Immunology and Host Defense
- PLSC689W Plant-Microbe Associations
- VMSC610 Recombinant Viral Vectors
- VMSC720 Viral Pathogenesis
- VMSC660 Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases
- VMSC688A Advances in Reverse Genetics of Animal Viruses
- VMSC760 Immunology of Infectious Diseases
Faculty Research in Virology
- Faculty were selected to participate in the virology research cluster by virtue of their outstanding contributions to fundamental aspects of virus-host interactions, virus replication/gene expression, and vaccine development as well as their commitment to training students at the predoctoral and postdoctoral levels.
- Dr. Moss is a member of the National Academy of Science and Drs. Moss, Simon, and Freed are senior editors of Virology, Journal of Virology, and Viruses, respectively.
- Virology faculty study DNA viruses (Drs. Moss, Cohen, and McBride) as well as RNA viruses that infect plants (Drs. Simon and Culver), and animals (Drs. DeStefano, Scull, Freed, Rosenfeld, Belov, Park, Dinman, Broadbent, and Green).
- Vaccine development based on knowledge that includes virus replication mechanisms and antibody responses is a major strength of the program, with Drs. Green, Moss, Zhu, Li, Ofek, Pierce, Gonzalez-Juarbe, Wang, and Fuerst active in this research area.
- All Virology faculty are funded through NIH, NSF, USDA, or intramural or other government programs.
