PROJECT SUMMARY

Hello internet viewers of our website, thanks for visiting me.

As lab manager with Mike Cerrato, I make sure the lab continues to function as smoothly and efficiently as it did under Steve C's able hands.

As a researcher, I am working on Nipah Virus entry. Nipah, a Henipavirus, can cause up to 70% mortality rates along with significant damage to the agricultural industry as pigs carry and spread the virus. Under Mike Wolf's tutelage, I am using the Molecular Shared Screening Resource (MSSR) to analyze libraries of small molecules for inhibition of Nipah Virus binding protein G to its human receptor, EphrinB2. We are looking specifically for a small molecule that fits in Nipah G's hydrophobic pocket in its hypothetical receptor binding site. So far I have screened over 35,000 compounds using an Enzyme-linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA)!

I know, that's a lot of compounds. I am also focusing on optimizing and utilizing an infection assay using RFP knocked-in pseudotype virus. Using this technique, I can get reliable infection data on Nipah, a BSL-4 pathogen, under much safer conditions.

UPDATE: Riddler is now in med. school at USC...fun stuff.

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