Development and Characterization of Lassa

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Development and Characterization of Lassa DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF LASSA VIRUS VACCINES AND MOUSE MODEL BY GAËLLE CAMUS A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies of The University of Manitoba in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Immunology University of Manitoba Winnipeg Copyright © 2012 by Gaëlle Camus ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am extremely thankful to my advisory committee, Dr. Heinz Feldmann, Dr. Redwan Moqbel, my external examiner Dr. Lisa Hensley and especially my supervisor, Dr. Jude Uzonna and my co-supervisor, Dr. Judie Alimonti for their support, guidance and encouragement throughout the years of my PhD. I would like to thank Dr. Steven Jones for giving me the opportunity to work on Lassa fever, support throughout the years and believing in me. I want to acknowledge Dr. Ute Ströher for sharing her enthusiasm for Lassa virus with me and helpful discussions. I would also like to thank Dr. Paul Hazelton for the electron microscopy studies. I am grateful to the Department of Immunology and all its members at the University of Manitoba for their help and support over the years. Thanks to everyone in Special Pathogens, especially Kinola Williams, Alex Silaghi, Heidi Breitling, Lisa Fernando, Xiangguo Qiu and Salipa Sinkala. I appreciate your support, help and friendship. I am also grateful to the Manitoba Health Research Council for the “Graduate Student Fellowship” I received in 2006-2010. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................................... ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ...................................................................................................................... iii LIST OF TABLES .............................................................................................................................. vii LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................................... viii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................................................. x ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................................................... xv 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 1 1.1. Arenaviruses ........................................................................................................................ 1 1.1.1. Taxonomy and classification ........................................................................................ 1 1.1.2. Genome and virion structure ....................................................................................... 5 1.1.3. Lassa virus life cycle ..................................................................................................... 8 1.2. Lassa fever ......................................................................................................................... 10 1.2.1. Discovery of Lassa fever ............................................................................................. 10 1.2.2. Clinical presentation of Lassa fever ........................................................................... 10 1.2.2.1. Clinical and virological laboratory parameters ...................................................... 11 1.2.2.2. Severe cases and complications............................................................................. 12 1.2.2.3. Pathology of Lassa fever ........................................................................................ 15 1.2.3. Epidemiology .............................................................................................................. 15 1.2.4. Transmission .............................................................................................................. 16 1.2.5. Laboratory diagnosis .................................................................................................. 16 1.2.6. Animal models of LASV infection ............................................................................... 17 1.2.6.1. Non-human primates ............................................................................................. 17 1.2.6.2. Guinea pigs ............................................................................................................. 21 1.2.6.3. Mice ....................................................................................................................... 22 1.2.7. Pathogenesis and immunology of LASV infection ..................................................... 24 1.2.7.1. Infection ................................................................................................................. 24 1.2.7.2. Host immune response .......................................................................................... 24 1.2.8. Therapy ...................................................................................................................... 33 1.2.9. Vaccine design strategies ........................................................................................... 37 1.2.9.1. Vaccines against Lassa fever virus ......................................................................... 40 iii 1.2.9.2. Mopeia virus .......................................................................................................... 40 1.2.9.3. Vaccinia recombinant constructs ........................................................................... 43 1.2.9.4. Alphavirus replicons ............................................................................................... 45 1.2.9.5. Recombinant Salmonella ....................................................................................... 46 1.2.9.6. Inactivated Lassa virus ........................................................................................... 46 1.2.9.7. Mopeia/Lassa reassortant virus ............................................................................. 47 1.2.9.8. DNA vaccine ........................................................................................................... 50 1.2.9.9. Yellow Fever recombinant vaccine ........................................................................ 50 1.2.9.10. Recombinant VSV vaccine ...................................................................................... 52 1.3. Global objectives and hypotheses .................................................................................... 54 1.3.1. Global rationale .......................................................................................................... 54 1.3.2. Hypotheses ................................................................................................................ 56 1.3.2.1. Development and characterization of vaccines against Lassa fever ..................... 56 1.3.2.2. Establishment of a novel mouse model of Lassa fever .......................................... 57 1.3.3. Objectives................................................................................................................... 57 2. Materials and Methods ......................................................................................................... 58 2.1. Cell lines ............................................................................................................................. 58 2.2. Viruses ............................................................................................................................... 58 2.2.1. Recombinant VSV virus stock preparation ................................................................ 59 2.2.2. Plaque assay ............................................................................................................... 59 2.3. SDS-PAGE and Western blotting (WB) .............................................................................. 60 2.3.1. Membrane stripping .................................................................................................. 62 2.4. Mouse studies ................................................................................................................... 63 2.4.1. Animal ethics .......................................................................................................... 63 2.5. Quantitative ELISA ............................................................................................................. 63 2.5.1. LASV antigen preparation .......................................................................................... 63 2.5.2. Mouse serum samples ............................................................................................... 64 2.5.3. ELISA protocol ............................................................................................................ 64 2.6. ELISPOT assay .................................................................................................................... 65 2.6.1. Preparation of mouse splenocytes ............................................................................ 65 2.6.2. ELISPOT protocol ........................................................................................................ 66 2.6.2.1. LASV peptides ........................................................................................................ 67 iv 2.7. Biosafety ...........................................................................................................................
Recommended publications
  • Hydroxychloroquine Prophylaxis and Treatment Is Ineffective in Macaque and Hamster SARS-Cov-2 Disease Models
    Hydroxychloroquine prophylaxis and treatment is ineffective in macaque and hamster SARS-CoV-2 disease models Kyle Rosenke, … , Emmie de Wit, Heinz Feldmann JCI Insight. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1172/jci.insight.143174. Research In-Press Preview COVID-19 Therapeutics Graphical abstract Find the latest version: https://jci.me/143174/pdf 1 Title: Hydroxychloroquine Prophylaxis and Treatment is Ineffective in Macaque and Hamster 2 SARS-CoV-2 Disease Models 3 4 Authors: Kyle Rosenke,1† Michael. A. Jarvis,2† Friederike Feldmann,3† BenJamin. Schwarz,4 5 Atsushi Okumura,1 JamieLovaglio,3 Greg Saturday,3 Patrick W. Hanley,3 Kimberly Meade- 6 White,1 Brandi N. Williamson,1 Frederick Hansen,1 Lizette Perez-Perez,1 Shanna Leventhal,1 7 Tsing-Lee Tang-Huau,1 Julie Callison,1 Elaine Haddock.1 Kaitlin A. Stromberg,4 Dana Scott,3 8 Graham Sewell,5 Catharine M. Bosio,4 David Hawman,1 Emmie de Wit,1 Heinz Feldmann1* 9 †These authors contributed equally 10 11 Affiliations: 1Laboratory of Virology, 3Rocky Mountain Veterinary Branch and 4Laboratory of 12 Bacteriology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious 13 Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA; 14 2University of Plymouth; and The Vaccine Group Ltd, Plymouth, Devon, UK; 15 5The Leicester School of Pharmacy, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK 16 17 *Corresponding author: Heinz Feldmann, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, 903 S 4th Street, 18 Hamilton, MT, US-59840; Tel: (406)-375-7410; Email: [email protected] 19 20 Conflict of Interest Statement: The authors have declared that no conflict of interest exists. 21 22 ABSTRACT 23 We remain largely without effective prophylactic/therapeutic interventions for COVID-19.
    [Show full text]
  • CV Heinz Feldmann
    Curriculum Vitae M.D., Ph.D. Heinz Feldmann Name: Heinz Feldmann Forschungsschwerpunkte: hochinfektiöse Viren, Ebola-Virus, Marburg-Virus, Krankheitsmodellierung mit nichtmenschlichen Primatenmodellen, Entwicklung von Impfstoffen, Ebola-Impfstoff (rVSV-ZEBOV), Virostatika und Therapeutika Heinz Feldmann ist Virologe. Er erforscht hochinfektiöse Viren wie das Lassa-, Ebola- oder Marburg- Virus. Sein Forschungsinteresse gilt der Entwicklung von Impfstoffen. Er hat einen Impfstoff für Ebola entwickelt und gilt als international führender Ebola-Experte. Bei Ausbrüchen von Ebola, Lassa-Fieber und SARS war er vielfach Berater der WHO vor Ort. Akademischer und beruflicher Werdegang seit 2017 Graduate Faculty Associate an der Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia, USA 2012 - 2017 Affiliate Appointment an der Washington University, Seattle, Washington, USA 2011 - 2015 Graduate Faculty an der Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA 2010 - 2018 Faculty Affiliate an der University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA seit 2008 Leiter des Laboratory of Virology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories (RML), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Hamilton, Montana, USA und Leitender Wissenschaftler der RML BSL4 Laboratories 2002 - 2012 Adjunct Professor am Department of Pathology an der University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA seit 1999 Assistant und Associate Professor am Department of Medical Microbiology, Medical Faculty an der University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba,
    [Show full text]
  • BMBL) Quickly Became the Cornerstone of Biosafety Practice and Policy in the United States Upon First Publication in 1984
    Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories 5th Edition U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Public Health Service Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Institutes of Health HHS Publication No. (CDC) 21-1112 Revised December 2009 Foreword Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) quickly became the cornerstone of biosafety practice and policy in the United States upon first publication in 1984. Historically, the information in this publication has been advisory is nature even though legislation and regulation, in some circumstances, have overtaken it and made compliance with the guidance provided mandatory. We wish to emphasize that the 5th edition of the BMBL remains an advisory document recommending best practices for the safe conduct of work in biomedical and clinical laboratories from a biosafety perspective, and is not intended as a regulatory document though we recognize that it will be used that way by some. This edition of the BMBL includes additional sections, expanded sections on the principles and practices of biosafety and risk assessment; and revised agent summary statements and appendices. We worked to harmonize the recommendations included in this edition with guidance issued and regulations promulgated by other federal agencies. Wherever possible, we clarified both the language and intent of the information provided. The events of September 11, 2001, and the anthrax attacks in October of that year re-shaped and changed, forever, the way we manage and conduct work
    [Show full text]
  • An Emergent Ebola Virus Nucleoprotein Variant Influences Virion
    bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/454314; this version posted October 29, 2018. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under aCC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license. 1 An emergent Ebola virus nucleoprotein variant influences virion 2 budding, oligomerization, transcription and replication 3 Aaron E Lin1,2,3,11, William E Diehl4,11, Yingyun Cai5, Courtney Finch5, Chidiebere Akusobi6, 4 Robert N Kirchdoerfer7, Laura Bollinger5, Stephen F Schaffner2,3, Elizabeth A Brown2,3, Erica 5 Ollmann Saphire7,8, Kristian G Andersen7,9, Jens H Kuhn5,12, Jeremy Luban4,12, Pardis C 6 Sabeti1,2,3,10,12 7 8 1Harvard Program in Virology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. 2FAS Center 9 for Systems Biology, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, 10 Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. 3Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA. 11 4Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 12 01605, USA. 5Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, National Institute of Allergy and 13 Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD 21702. 6Department of 14 Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 15 02120, USA. 7Department of Immunology and Microbial Sciences, The Scripps Research 16 Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA. 8The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, The Scripps 17 Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA. 9Scripps Translational Science Institute, La Jolla, 18 CA 92037, USA.
    [Show full text]
  • Generation of Biologically Contained Ebola Viruses
    Generation of biologically contained Ebola viruses Peter Halfmann*, Jin Hyun Kim*, Hideki Ebihara†‡, Takeshi Noda†, Gabriele Neumann*, Heinz Feldmann‡, and Yoshihiro Kawaoka*†§¶ *Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706; §Division of Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and †International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; and ‡Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada and Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3E 3R2 Edited by Peter Palese, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, and approved December 12, 2007 (received for review August 25, 2007) Ebola virus (EBOV), a public health concern in Africa and a potential and is critical for viral budding (18, 19). VP24 is essential for biological weapon, is classified as a biosafety level-4 agent because the formation of nucleocapsids composed of NP, VP35, and of its high mortality rate and the lack of approved vaccines and viral RNA (20). The only viral surface glycoprotein, GP, plays antivirals. Basic research into the mechanisms of EBOV pathoge- a role in viral attachment and entry (21–24). nicity and the development of effective countermeasures are Reverse genetics systems for negative-sense RNA viruses (i.e., restricted by the current biosafety classification of EBOVs. We their artificial generation and modification from cloned cDNAs) therefore developed biologically contained EBOV that express a are now established in the field (25, 26). We have exploited this reporter gene instead of the VP30 gene, which encodes an essential technology to generate EBOVs that lack the essential VP30 gene transcription factor.
    [Show full text]
  • Development of Replication-Competent Vsv-Based Vaccines for Protection Against Hantaviruses
    University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School 2016 DEVELOPMENT OF REPLICATION-COMPETENT VSV-BASED VACCINES FOR PROTECTION AGAINST HANTAVIRUSES Joshua Ovila Marceau Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Marceau, Joshua Ovila, "DEVELOPMENT OF REPLICATION-COMPETENT VSV-BASED VACCINES FOR PROTECTION AGAINST HANTAVIRUSES" (2016). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 10899. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/10899 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. DEVELOPMENT OF REPLICATION-COMPETENT VSV-BASED VACCINES FOR PROTECTION AGAINST HANTAVIRUSES By JOSHUA OVILA MARCEAU Bachelor of Science in Microbiology, Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania, 2009 Previous Degree, College or University, City, State or Country, Year Dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Sciences The University of Montana Missoula, MT December 2016 Approved by: Scott Whittenburg, Dean of The Graduate School Graduate School Dr. Heinz Feldmann, Co-Chair Primary Research Advisor NIH NIAID Rocky Mountain Laboratories Hamilton, Montana USA 59840 Dr. Keith Parker, Professor (Co-Chair) Department of Biomedical Sciences Dr. Ruben M. Ceballos, Assistant Professor Department of Biological Sciences University of Arkansas Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA 72730 Dr. Brent Ryckman, Associate Professor, Division of Biological Sciences Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • Research.Pdf (5.117Mb)
    CELL-TO-CELL INFECTION, CELL-CELL FUSION AND PRODUCTION OF EBOLAVIRUS: MECHANISMS OF ACTION AND CELLULAR MODULATORS _____________________________________ A Dissertation presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School at the University of Missouri-Columbia _______________________________________________________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy _____________________________________________________ by Chunhui Miao Dr. Shan-Lu Liu, Dissertation Supervisor JULY 2016 The undersigned, appointed by the dean of the Graduate School, have examined the dissertation entitled CELL-TO-CELL INFECTION, CELL-CELL FUSION AND PRODUCTION OF EBOLAVIRUS: MECHANISMS OF ACTION AND CELLULAR MODULATORS presented by Chunhui Miao, a candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, and hereby certify that, in their opinion, it is worthy of acceptance. Dr. Shan-Lu Liu Dr. Bumsuk Hahm Dr. Marc Johnson Dr. David Pintel Dr. Guoquan Zhang DEDICATION “I am a slow walker, but I never walk backwards.” - Abraham Lincoln . “Clear Head, Clever Hand and Clean Habit, C3H3”- The Motto of the Liu Lab ACKNOWLEDGMENTS First, I thank my mentor, Dr. Shan-Lu Liu for his continuous and selfless support. I feel lucky to be his student and have had a chance to learn from him during the Ph.D. training. He is the best knowledgeable and also hardest worker I have never met. I would like to express my gratitude to him for helping me throughout the Ph.D. process. He had spent tons of time teaching me how to read, how to write and how to communicate personally and scientifically. I have learned a great deal from him, not only being a scientist but also a useful person.
    [Show full text]
  • Thesis Reference
    Thesis L'épidémie de la maladie du virus Ebola et le vaccin VSV-EBOV : un essai clinique de phase I dans une situation d'urgence CSAKI HUTTNER, Angela Abstract L'épidémie actuelle de maladie du virus Ebola a été reconnue en Guinée en Mars 2014. La maladie a touché plus que 10 pays sur trois continents, et aux Etats Unis et en Espagne, des transmissions nosocomiales ont eu lieu. La portée de l'épidémie a déclenchée un certain degré de panique et, enfin, une collaboration internationale sans précédent. En automne 2014, sous la coordination de l'Organisation mondiale de la santé, les Hôpitaux universitaires de Genève ont lancé un essai de phase I pour tester la sécurité et immunogénicité du candidat vaccin le plus prometteur. Cette étude randomisée, contrôlée par placebo a inclus 115 volontaires sains. Le vaccin a été réactogène mais fortement immunogène ; résultats inattendus comprenaient des arthrites, dermatites, et vasculites cutanées liées au vaccin. Ces effets secondaires ont été enfin auto-limités, et le vaccin a été sélectionné pour des essais ultérieurs (phase III) sur le terrain. Reference CSAKI HUTTNER, Angela. L'épidémie de la maladie du virus Ebola et le vaccin VSV-EBOV : un essai clinique de phase I dans une situation d'urgence. Thèse de doctorat : Univ. Genève, 2016, no. Méd. 10827 DOI : 10.13097/archive-ouverte/unige:94945 URN : urn:nbn:ch:unige-949452 Available at: http://archive-ouverte.unige.ch/unige:94945 Disclaimer: layout of this document may differ from the published version. 1 / 1 Section de médecine Clinique Département
    [Show full text]
  • FY16 NEIDL Annual Report
    Annual Report Fiscal Year 2016 Table of Contents Letter from the Director …………………………………………………………….………………………………………………...................... 1 3 Mission and Strategic Plan …………………………………………………………….………………………………….………………………..…… Faculty and Staff………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………………………................... 4 Scientific Leadership ……………………………………………….……………………………………………………………................ 4 Principal Investigators………………………………………………………………..…………………………………………................ 4 Researchers and Laboratory Staff………………………………………..………………………………………………................. 6 Students……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….................. 7 Animal Research Support………………………………………………………………………………………………………................ 8 Operations Leadership…………………………………………………………………………………………………………................ 8 Administration ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………................ 8 Community Relations……………………………………………………………………….…………………………………................. 9 Facilities Maintenance and Operations……………………………………………………….………………………................. 9 Environmental Health & Safety ………………………………………………………………………………………….................. 9 Public Safety………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………….................. 9 Research…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………………………................ 11 Publications …………………………………………………………………………………….……………………………................……. 11 Y16 Funded Research………………………………………………………………………..……………..……………………………….................. 15 Seed Funding………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………................ 18 NEIDL Faculty Recognition
    [Show full text]
  • Framework for Leadership and Training of Biosafety Level 4 Laboratory Workers James W
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by PubMed Central Framework for Leadership and Training of Biosafety Level 4 Laboratory Workers James W. Le Duc, Kevin Anderson, Marshall E. Bloom, James E. Estep, Heinz Feldmann, Joan B. Geisbert, Thomas W. Geisbert, Lisa Hensley, Michael Holbrook, Peter B. Jahrling, Thomas G. Ksiazek, George Korch, Jean Patterson, John P. Skvorak, and Hana Weingartl Construction of several new Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4) has led the US government to expand the number of Bio- laboratories and expansion of existing operations have cre- safety Level 4 (BSL-4) laboratories, also known as maxi- ated an increased international demand for well-trained staff mum containment laboratories (MCLs), to perform work and facility leaders. Directors of most North American BSL-4 essential for promoting public health and to ensure bioter- laboratories met and agreed upon a framework for leader- rorism preparedness. A few such laboratories have been in ship and training of biocontainment research and operations existence for decades, primarily in Australia, Russia, South staff. They agreed on essential preparation and training that includes theoretical consideration of biocontainment prin- Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States; these ciples, practical hands-on training, and mentored on-the-job have had, in most instances, an exceptional history of safe- experiences relevant to positional responsibilities as essen- ty in handling these most dangerous pathogens. However, tial preparation before a person’s independent access to a construction of new facilities, including 2 national labora- BSL-4 facility. They also agreed that the BSL-4 laboratory tories on academic campuses in the United States, and the director is the key person most responsible for ensuring that expansion of existing US facilities, has resulted in public staff members are appropriately prepared for BSL-4 opera- concern and Congressional inquiries regarding the safety tions.
    [Show full text]
  • Structure-Function Analysis of Ebola Virus Glycoproteins by Darryl L. Falzarano B.Sc., M.Sc. DOCTOR of PHILOSOPHY
    Structure-Function Analysis of Ebola Virus Glycoproteins by Darryl L. Falzarano B.Sc., M.Sc. A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies of The University of Manitoba in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Department of Medical Microbiology University of Manitoba Winnipeg, MB Copyright © 2010 by Darryl L. Falzarano THE UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES ***** COPYRIGHT PERMISSION A Thesis/Practicum submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies of The University of Manitoba in partial fulfillment of the requirement of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (c) 2010 Permission has been granted to the Library of the University of Manitoba to lend or sell copies of this thesis/practicum, to the National Library of Canada to microfilm this thesis and to lend or sell copies of the film, and to University Microfilms Inc. to publish an abstract of this thesis/practicum. This reproduction or copy of this thesis has been made available by authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research, and may only be reproduced and copied as permitted by copyright laws or with express written authorization from the copyright owner. i THIS THESIS HAS BEEN EXAMINED AND APPROVED. ______________________________________________________ Thesis supervisor, Dr. Heinz Feldmann, M.D., Ph.D. Associate Professor of Medical Microbiology Chief, Laboratory of Virology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, DIR, NIAID, NIH ______________________________________________________ Dr. Kevin Coombs, Ph.D. Professor of Medical Microbiology, Internal Medicine Associate Dean (Research) Faculty of Medicine ______________________________________________________ Dr. John Wilkins, Ph.D. Professor of Internal Medicine, Immunology, Biochemistry and Medical Genetics Director, Manitoba Centre for Proteomics and Systems Biology ______________________________________________________ External Examiner, Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • Evolutionary Trends in Viral Pathogens Within and Between Outbreaks
    EVOLUTIONARY TRENDS IN VIRAL PATHOGENS WITHIN AND BETWEEN OUTBREAKS A dissertation submitted to Kent State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy by Mary E. Saha December 2017 © Copyright All rights reserved Except for previously published materials Dissertation written by Mary E Saha B.S., University of Akron, 2008 Ph.D., Kent State University, 2017 Approved by _Dr. Helen Piontkivska___________ Chair, Doctoral Dissertation Committee _Dr. Gary Koski_________________ Members, Doctoral Dissertation Committee _Dr. Christopher Woolverton_______ _Dr. Tara Smith_________________ _Dr. Walter Hoeh________________ _Dr. Gail Fraizer_________________ Accepted by __Dr. Laura Leff________________ Chair, Department of Biology __Dr. James Blank_______________ Dean, College of Arts and Sciences Table of Contents LIST OF FIGURES ......................................................................................................... V LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................ VII ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................ VIII CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION .................................................................................... 1 1.1 RNA viruses .............................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Influenza A...................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]