The Department has substantial expertise and resources in virology
including molecular virology, immunopathogenesis and vaccinology. Topics
of research interest include the molecular genetics and cell biology of
human and animal herpesviruses, the structure and function of herpes and
coronavirus-specified glycoproteins involved in membrane fusion and virion
morphogenesis, viral vectorology for gene and cancer therapy.
virally-vectored vaccines for West Nile virus, and simian retroviruses,
neuro-immunopathogenesis of mouse and simian retroviruses,
immunopathogenesis of respiratory syncytial virus, and immunological
aspects of synergistic relationships between human immunodeficiency virus
and other opportunitistic pathogens. This group of eight faculty members
are funded by NIH, USDA, and other state and private sources. Virology
faculty participate in the LSU-Tulane NIH Center for Experimental
Infectious Disease Research (http://www.labiomed.info),
which is administered by the Division of Biotechnology and Molecular
Medicine (http://biommed.lsu.edu)
of the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine and has collaborating faculty and
core facilities at the Tulane National Primate Research Center in
Convington, Louisiana.
Faculty:
A. Baghian, PhD. Research Assistant Professor. Molecular genetics of
Kaposi's sarcoma associated herpesvirus; vesicular stomatitis
virus-vectored vaccines against West Nile virus.
V. Chouljenko, Ph.D. Research Assistant Professor. Molecular genetics
of human and animal coronaviruses; structure and function of viral
glycoproteins in virus-induced membrane fusion.
T. Foster, Ph.D. Research Assistant Professor. Molecular biology of
herpes simplex virus type-1; Structure and function of Kaposis's
sarcoma=specified viral oncogenes.
K. G. Kousoulas, Professor and BIOMMED Director. Genetics and Functions
of herpes simplex virus glycoproteins. Viral vectored vaccines for vaccine
and cancer therapy.
K. Peterson, Assistant Professor. Neuroimmunology of mouse
retroviruses.
M. Orandle, Assistant Professor. Neuroimmunology of simian
retroviruses.
S. Cormier, Adjunct Assistant Professor. Immunological aspects of lung
injury by environmental and viral causes.
H. Hale-Donze, Adjunct Assistant Pofessor, Synergistic relationships
between human immunodeficiency virus and other opportunistic pathogens.
C. Apetrei, MD, PhD, Adjunct Assistant Professor. Immunopathology of
simian retroviruses as models for human immunodeficiency viral infections
of humans.
P. Marx, Adjunct Professor. Vaccines against SIV, West Nile virus and
herpes B; phylogenetics of simian retroviruses.
A. Lackner, DVM. PhD. Adjunct Professor. Immunopathogenesis of simian
retroviruses.
R. Veazey, DVM, PhD. Immunopathology of viral and bacterial infections.
