Virology and Immunology lab

Our lab aims to characterize the assembly process of Varicella Zoster Virus, a human alphaherpesvirus and to design oncolytic herpesviruses to specifically target a subpopulation of glioblastoma cells.

Research

Molecular mechanisms of Varicella Zoster Virus assembly

As all herpesviruses, VZV is assembled via a very complex process, involving many cellular and viral proteins. ORF9p, one of the tegument protein as well as the two viral protein kinases appear to play an important role in both the primary envelopment at the inner nuclear membrane and the secondary envelopment in the cytoplasm. The exact molecular mechanisms of these processes are under investigation.

Design and characterization of oncolytic Herpesviruses.

Oncolytic viruses are more and more considered as a therapeutic options combined or not to immune or chemotherapies. With its large genome and a well-characterized mechanisms of cell entry, the Herpes Virus Simplex 1 appears to be suitable for being engineered to target a cell subpopulation and to introduce a transgene in the infected cells.The characterization of such an oncolytic HSV engineered to target a subpopulation of glioblastoma cells and of the immune response elicited by this virus is ongoing.