https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9351-7409
Overview
Our lab studies the molecular mechanisms that regulate RNA virus-host interactions. We focus primarily on viruses in the Flaviviridae family of viruses, including dengue virus (DENV), Zika virus (ZIKV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV). Our research is focused on defining (1) how these viruses replicate, (2) the mechanisms that regulate antiviral innate immunity to these viruses, and (3) RNA regulatory controls to both of these processes. Our lab has pioneered approaches to how the RNA modification m6A regulates viral infection, antiviral innate immunity and the host response to virus infection. Our long-term goal is to discover the necessary mechanistic and functional information to guide future development of new strategies for virus treatment and prevention.
Lab Website
Current Duke Appointments & Affiliations
Recent Scholarly Works
The m 6 A methyltransferase complex protein VIRMA engages hepatitis C virus RNA through a WTAP-independent mechanism.
Preprint · September 12, 2026 Cellular proteins in the m 6 A methyltransferase protein complex (m 6 A-MTC) work together to modify both cellular and viral RNAs with N6-methyladenosine (m 6 A), an RNA modification that regulates viral infection. We previously showed that hepatitis C vir ... Full text Link to item CiteTranscript architecture sets the m 6 A landscape: CSTF2 and CSTF2T reshape m 6 A through cleavage-dependent and -independent mechanisms.
Journal article bioRxiv · June 8, 2026 Alternative RNA processing generates extensive transcript diversity, yet how transcript architecture influences selective m 6 A deposition is incompletely understood. Exon-junction-based models explain where m 6 A is excluded, but a positive determinant of ... Full text Link to item CiteIFIT3 Associates with m⁶A-Modified RNA to Restrict Hepatitis C Virus Infection.
Journal article bioRxiv · March 26, 2026 UNLABELLED: Interferon-induced proteins with tetratricopeptide repeats (IFITs) are RNA-binding effectors that restrict infection by diverse RNA viruses. Among the IFIT family, how IFIT3 recognizes RNA remains the least understood. Here, we identify IFIT3 a ... Full text Link to item CiteRecent Grants
Vaccines and Biologics Against Infectious Diseases - T32
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2026 - 2031Cell and Molecular Biology Training Program
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institute of General Medical Sciences · 2026 - 2031Genetics and Genomics Training Grant
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2026 - 2031View All Grants