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The Burgess Lab investigates RNA regulation in virus:host interactions. Viruses utilize host cell ribosomes to produce proteins and successfully replicate by evolving various mechanisms to ensure RNA is efficiently made, survives in the cytoplasm, and is translated, influencing host mRNAs and encoding immune response proteins that act against rival ribosome access. This competition in gene expression, along with the role of RNA as pathogen-associated molecular patterns, enables cells to recognize viral RNA and launch antiviral defenses. Thus, viral strategies manipulate host RNAs to influence infection outcomes in multiple ways, revealing unexpected aspects of cell biology and vulnerabilities in virus lifecycles that can be therapeutically targeted. Current projects include studying the importance of deadenylation on poly(A)-tail length in Human Cytomegalovirus infection, m6A RNA modification in coronavirus infections, and double-stranded RNA responses in HSV-1 infection. The lab encourages national and international collaborations, welcome inquiries from prospective PhD students, and supports students through various scholarships and funding schemes.
Imperial College London • London, United Kingdom
Senior Lecturer in Life Sciences.
University of Surrey • Guildford, United Kingdom
Lecturer in Microbes, Infection and Immunity.
Specialisms available in Materials for the Energy Transition or Theory and Simulation of Materials.