Research Abstract:
The laboratory studies hepatitis C virus (HCV) which has emerged as one of the primary causes of chronic liver disease, with an estimated 170-200 million carriers throughout the world. Our work combines molecular biology, genetic tools, biochemical techniques, cell biology and recently developed cell culture replication systems to define the molecular mechanisms of viral replication and the determinants of the HCV-host interaction. Specifically, we are characterizing interactions among the HCV non-structural proteins that are essential for membrane-associated HCV replication. Since host factors participate in most, if not all, steps of RNA virus infection, we are identifying virus-host interactions critical for replication and virulence, with a specific emphasis on host factors interacting with HCV RNA and non-structural proteins. Another focus of the lab is to define the roles of essential, yet poorly characterized, HCV proteins in both replication and pathogenesis.
Selected Publications:
Paredes AM and Blight KJ. A genetic interaction between hepatitis C virus NS4B and NS3 Is important for RNA replication. J Virol 2008 82:10671-10683.
Blight KJ. Allelic variation in the hepatitis C virus NS4B protein dramatically influences RNA replication. J Virol 2007 81:5724-5736.
Blight KJ and Norgard EA. Recent advances in hepatitis C virus replication. In: Hefferon, K. L., editor. Recent advances in RNA virus replication. Kerala, India: Transworld Reseach Network 2006 45-90.
Blight KJ and Norgard EA. HCV replicon systems. In: Tan, S-L. editor. Hepatitis C viruses: genomes and molecular biology. Norwich, UK: Horizon Scientific Press 2006 311-351.
Blight KJ, McKeating JA, Marcotrigiano J, Rice CM. Efficient replication of hepatitis C virus genotype 1a RNAs in cell culture. J Virol 2003 77:3181-3190.
Last Updated: 10/20/2008 |