Mentor Areas
Research in the Cherry lab is aimed at identifying cellular factors that regulate viral pathogenesis, including both those factors hijacked by viruses for replication and those innate anti-viral mechanisms used by the host to combat the invader. To identify these factors the lab takes a genetic approach by screening for factors that impact viral replication. To this end, the lab utilizes the model genetic organism Drosophila. This allows them to use a wide-variety of techniques to identify these genes including both high-throughput RNA interference screens in cell culture, and forward genetic screens in animals. Moreover, the lab also screens for host factors in human cells using high-throughput RNA interference screening technologies. Using these approaches the lab is able to study a number of arthropod-borne RNA viruses, including the flavivirus West Nile virus, the alphavirus Sindbis and the bunyavirus Rift Valley Fever virus. These are the three major families of viruses that are important human pathogens transmitted by mosquitoes to humans. By screening in both hosts- insect and human- the goal is to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the host factor requirements of these pathogens. The lab is currently characterizing the roles of candidate genes already uncovered by using molecular biological and cell biological techniques and have discovered factors involved in viral replication and innate immunity. By combining these methodologies, and using a variety of viruses, the Cherry lab hopes to gain a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between the host and pathogen in a complex and dynamic setting.
Description:
The responsibilities and projects vary with the interests of the students. In general, many undergraduates who have been in the laboratory help with lab maintenance and have research projects on antiviral immunity. We have undergraduates work in the lab year round.
Preferred Qualifications
There are no requirements other than an interest in experimental research. We are interested in enthusiastic students who have an interest in science.
Project Website
Learn more about the researcher and/or the project here. Cherry Lab
Details:
Preferred Student Year
First-year, Second-Year, Junior, Senior
Academic Term
Fall, Spring, Summer
I prefer to have students start during the above term(s).Volunteer
No
Yes indicates that faculty are open to volunteers.Paid
Yes
Yes indicates that faculty are open to paying students they engage in their research, regardless of their work-study eligibility.Work Study
Yes
Yes indicates that faculty are open to hiring work-study-eligible students.