Role of Human metapneumovirus Phosphoprotein domains in the viral lifecycle
Grade Level at Time of Presentation
Senior
Major
Agricultural and Medical Biotechnology, Computer Science
Minor
Mathematics
Institution
University of Kentucky
KY House District #
45
KY Senate District #
12
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Dr. Rebecca Dutch
Department
Molecular & Cellular Biochemistry
Abstract
Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) causes severe respiratory disease, especially in infants, the elderly, and the immunocompromised. HMPV Phosphoprotein (P), which normally interacts with the viral polymerase for replication, has been shown to play roles in other parts of the viral life cycle. Here we have generated deletion mutants of P to investigate the roles of three different regions in protein-protein interactions (e.g., actin), localization, and membrane disruption. To visualize these interactions, we observed infected and transfected cells using confocal microscopy. Co-expression of N and tagged P variants suggest that the C-terminus plays a role in the formation of inclusion bodies, or regions for genome replication and transcription. These results will aid understanding of how HMPV spreads from cell-to-cell and discovery of novel therapeutic targets.
Role of Human metapneumovirus Phosphoprotein domains in the viral lifecycle
Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) causes severe respiratory disease, especially in infants, the elderly, and the immunocompromised. HMPV Phosphoprotein (P), which normally interacts with the viral polymerase for replication, has been shown to play roles in other parts of the viral life cycle. Here we have generated deletion mutants of P to investigate the roles of three different regions in protein-protein interactions (e.g., actin), localization, and membrane disruption. To visualize these interactions, we observed infected and transfected cells using confocal microscopy. Co-expression of N and tagged P variants suggest that the C-terminus plays a role in the formation of inclusion bodies, or regions for genome replication and transcription. These results will aid understanding of how HMPV spreads from cell-to-cell and discovery of novel therapeutic targets.