Dr. Peter Krell

Biography

Virology has always fascinated me for the intrinsic sophistication and simplicity of viruses as they usurp the cell for their own replication and as a vehicle for dissecting the molecular events that occur within a cell. In my laboratory, we are interested in understanding the mechanisms and intracellular components involved in the molecular virology of the ubiquitous large dsDNA genome insect baculoviruses specifically focusing on transcriptional regulation, DNA replication, genomics, proteomics, viral protein functions, localizations, and interactions. For example, we are searching for origins of DNA replication on the baculovirus genome and are interested in dissecting the enzyme complex and regulation needed to realize this most fundamental of all biological processes. We are using the tools of transcriptomics and proteomics to unravel how these viruses regulate themselves and take over the cell's metabolism and molecular machinery to its own advantage. Furthermore, with colleagues in the Department of Pathobiology, I am studying animal viruses, especially fowl adenoviruses, as vectors to produce subunit or live viral vaccines for several animal viral diseases and have recently begun a collaboration on influenza virus research.

Research Interests