Dr. Peter Sarnow

Biography

Peter Sarnow is the Burt Marion Avery Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at Stanford University School of Medicine. His research has significantly advanced understanding of the mechanisms by which liver-specific microRNA, miR-122, regulates the amplification of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome in cultured cells. Dr. Sarnow's laboratory discovered that miR-122 interacts with the 5' end of the viral RNA, which is critical for viral replication. His findings indicate that sequestration of miR-122 using antisense-oligonucleotides leads to a rapid loss of viral RNA. His current investigations focus on the cellular targets of miR-122 and how they regulate HCV RNA replication, contributing to new insights into the role of small noncoding RNAs in the expression of cellular and viral mRNAs, which may open avenues for antiviral therapeutics against HCV. In addition to his work on microRNA, Dr. Sarnow studies the unusual mechanisms of translation initiation employed by various viruses, including HCV and insect viruses. He addresses fundamental questions about how cellular and viral mRNAs are efficiently translated despite having long 5' noncoding regions. Dr. Sarnow has obtained numerous prestigious awards and is a recognized leader in his field.

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