The Center for Virus Research (CVR)
The University of California at Irvine
3221 McGaugh Hall
Irvine, CA 92697-3906
Phone: 949.824.9314
Fax: 949.824.9437
Services:
Advanced Technology & Resources
The Center for Virus Research
Directed by Dr. Luis P. Villarreal
Oversight committee chaired by Dr. Bert Semler.
Established in July, 2000 as an Organized Research Unit
within the University of California, Irvine.
Post Baccalaureate Training
Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP)
Under the direction of the Principal Investigator, Dr. Luis Villarreal, the CVR administers a NIH sponsored Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program. The Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) at the University of California Irvine (UCI) aims to increase the pool of admitted underrepresented minority graduate students by encouraging, orienting and better preparing recent baccalaureate recipients during the critical transition from undergraduate work to enrollment in a graduate research doctorate program. The program ultimately aims to produce highly trained investigators to lead research in health problems that disproportionately affect minorities and the medically underserved population.
Pre and Post Doc Virology Training
The Virology Training Grant is an NIH training program dedicated to the study of the molecular biology of eukaryotic viruses. The program's goal is to train Ph.D. students in the fundamental aspects of molecular virology as they relate to the regulation of gene expression, virus structure, virus-host interactions, and pathogenesis. The program also emphasizes interdisciplinary training in viral proteomics as it relates to structures of viral proteins as well as intact virus particles. The eleven predoctoral students participating in the NIH Virology Grant also participate in the Virology Track in the MBG&B program.
Virology Graduate Training
The CVR has a long tradition of being very active in teaching, especially graduate education. Most members of the CVR are involved in the Combined Graduate Program in Molecular Biology Genetics and Biochemistry (MBGB) and are members of the Virology Track, headed by a CVR member David Camerini, PhD
The Virology Track is comprised of faculty, students, postdoctoral fellows, and laboratory staff who have common research and teaching interests in virology and related disciplines. It shares a common core curriculum with all other tracks in the MBG&B graduate program. The research programs of faculty participants include the study of genome replication, viral specific transcription, viral RNA processing, viral translation, viral protein processing, and assembly and transport of viral structural proteins. There are also research efforts aimed at understanding virus-host interactions that include studies of how virus gene products alter and program host functions, alteration of host regulatory molecules, growth control, cell cycle regulation, differentiation control, the role of the innate immune response, the integration specificity of viral genomes, and the subversion of host functions for virus gene expression. The viruses/viral systems being studied include murine leukemia virus, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), retrotransposons in yeast, poliovirus and human rhinovirus, coronaviruses, papillomavirus, herpes simplex virus, polyomavirus, and adenovirus.
The training program for the Virology Track includes core elective courses in viral gene expression, molecular pathogenesis of viral infections, and immunopathogenic mechanisms of disease. Students in the Virology Track also participate in a seminar series sponsored by the Center for Virus Research. Seminars are generally held at noon every other Friday during the academic year. Leading national researchers are invited to present their work in different areas of virology, gene regulation, cell transformation, and a variety of topics in molecular biology and molecular genetics. Alternating with the seminars by invited outside speakers are research-in-progress seminar presentations by graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in the laboratories of participating faculty. These seminars provide a stimulating forum for exchanges of scientific ideas and information and for a critical analysis of data generated by the graduate students and fellows making the oral presentations.
Virology Track Course Offerings and Training Activities
(1) Mol Bio 205: Topics in Viral Gene Expression (required course)
The course is taught by Bert Semler, Roz Sandri-Goldin, Luis Villarreal, Suzanne Sandmeyer, and Ed Robinson.
It includes lectures by faculty as well as student presentations and discussions of topics involving replication, control of gene expression, and interactions with the host following infections with selected DNA and RNA viruses. These include (among others) small DNA-containing viruses, herpesviruses, picornaviruses, influenza virus, and retroviruses (including HIV).(2) MMG 222: Molecular Pathogenesis of Viral Infections (elective course)
Features lectures by faculty on the molecular aspects of viral pathogensis, highlighting both viral and cellular functions. Students give oral presentations and write a research proposal on a selected topic. Prerequisite: Microbiology and Molecular Genetics 205. Lecturers for the course include: W. Edward Robinson, Rozanne Sandri-Goldin, Bert Semler, and Hung Fan.(3) MMG 221: Immunopathogenic Mechanisms of Disease (elective course)
Lecturers include Ed Robinson, Andrea Tenner, Christopher Hughes, and Michael Selsted
Examination of the mechanisms underlying disease states mediated by immune dysregulation. Topics include innate and adaptive immunity, autoimmunity, immunodeficiency, inflammatory disorders, and certain infectious diseases. Emphasis on biological basis of immunopathologies taught from reports in the original scientific literature. Prerequisite: Microbiology and Molecular Genetics 215. Same as Pathology 221.
Virology Master's Training-Biotechnology
In addition to its role in the Ph. D. trainee courses above, the CVR has also been active in the Masters of Science Degree in Biotechnology. It was the CVR (and its members) that initially proposed the development of two high level laboratories in the area of virology and immunology that were to be used for the creation of the Masters Biotechnology program:MBB 221L Advanced Immunology Laboratory
An advanced course in immunology for graduate students enrolled in the Biotechnology master's program. Emphasis is placed on learning modern techniques in immunology such as ELISAs, western blotting, immunofluorescent staining assays. Prerequisite: graduate standing. Concurrent with Biological Sciences M121L. Formerly Molecular Biology and Biochemistry 221.
MBB 224 Virus Engineering Laboratory
Dr. Villarreal developed the MB&B 124, Virus Engineering, which is a required course for Masters students. The development of this lab was coordinated by CVR member Dr. Tom Lane - MB&B (immunology class). Recently, Dr. Lane was appointed as the Director of the Masters Biotechnology Program. These two Masters program labs, along with the graduate core classes make up a basic course requirement for the Masters Biotechnology Program. It should also be noted that both of these labs are also offered to advanced undergraduates and are courses that apply to the Molecular Biology and Biochemistry undergraduate major.
An advanced laboratory for graduate students enrolled in the Biotechnology master's program. Students learn to engineer recombinant eukuryotic viruses and express genes in mouse tissue. Prerequisite: graduate standing.