Dermody Lab
Principal Investigator: Terence S. Dermody
Institution: University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA)
Primary Subfield: Immunology
Recruitment Status: ✅ Hiring Postdocs
Research Focus
Most viruses that replicate in the cytoplasm form neoorganelles that serve as sites of viral genome replication and particle assembly. These highly specialized viral factory (VF) structures concentrate viral replication proteins and nucleic acids, limit activation of cell-intrinsic defenses, and coordinate release of progeny particles. Despite the importance of VFs in viral replication, there are key gaps in knowledge about how these organelles form and function. Reovirus is a genetically tractable double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) virus that has been linked to celiac disease and shows promise for oncolytic applications. The proposed research will define mechanisms of reovirus factory formation, genome replication and translation, and progeny particle release. In common with other dsRNA viruses, including important pathogens of animals (orbiviruses) and humans (rotaviruses), reovirus factories are nucleated by viral nonstructural proteins that recruit viral structural proteins for genome replication and capsid assembly. We have discovered that (i) nonstructural protein µNS forms VF-like structures that resemble biomolecular condensates formed by liquid-liquid phase-separation (LLPS), (ii…
Active NIH Awards
- 5R01AI032539-34: Cell Biology of Reovirus Infection (2026)
- 5R01AI174526-05: Reovirus Neuropathogenesis (2026)
- 2R01AI032539-33A1: Cell Biology of Reovirus Infection (2025)
- 5R01AI174526-04: Reovirus Neuropathogenesis (2025)
- 5R01AI174526-03: Reovirus Neuropathogenesis (2024)
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