Faculty
 |
Katherine R. Spindler |
Molecular pathogenesis and host susceptibility genetics of virus infections
My laboratory is studying the molecular genetics of virus-host cell interactions in mouse adenovirus type 1 (MAV-1). Human adenoviruses cause 5-10% of respiratory illness in children and are associated with acute pneumonia in children in developing countries. Also, adenovirus infections are a serious complication of pediatric bone marrow transplants. MAV-1 affords us the opportunity to address adenovirus-host interactions in the natural host as well as in cell culture. By understanding how viral and cellular gene functions are regulated during infection, we can gain insight into disease processes.
MAV-1 causes acute and persistent viral infections in susceptible mice via infection of cells of the monocyte/macrophage lineage and endothelial cells. MAV-1 causes encephalitis, due to breakdown of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Current experiments are directed at understanding the molecular mechanisms by which the virus disrupts the BBB. Using virus and mouse mutants, we are also investigating how the virus elicits the innate immune response, for example whether through Toll-like receptors or the inflammasome.
We are also studying virus-host interactions by investigating the contributions of host genetics to adenovirus disease. We have identified inbred strains of mice that are far more susceptible to MAV-1 disease than other strains. We are actively investigating the biological differences in MAV-1 pathogenesis in susceptible and resistant strains. Through positional cloning experiments, we have evidence for at least two quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for susceptibility to MAV-1. There is a major QTL on mouse Chromosome 15 that encompasses the Ly6 complex, and we are using further genetic and immunological approaches to identify the specific Ly6 gene(s) responsible. We anticipate that identifying the genes associated with these QTLs will identify new mechanisms in virus-host interactions.
Selected Publications:
Hsu, T.-H., and K.R. Spindler. 2012. Identifying host factors that regulate viral infection. PLoS Pathog. 8:e1002772.
Hsu, T.-H., I.W. Althaus, O. Foreman, and K.R. Spindler. 2012. Contribution of a single host genetic locus to mouse adenovirus type 1 infection and encephalitis. mBio 3:e00131-12.
Spindler, K.R., and T.-H. Hsu. 2012. Viral disruption of the blood-brain barrier. Trends Microbiol. 20:282-290.
Stier, M.T., and K.R. Spindler. 2012. Polymorphisms in Ly6 genes in Msq1 encoding susceptibility to mouse adenovirus type 1. Mamm. Genome 23: 250-258.
Ashley, S.L., S.M. Ameres, S.R. Gerrard, O. Foreman, K.A. Eaton, J.B. Weinberg, K.R. Spindler. 2011. Host genetic variation in susceptibility to Punta Toro virus. Virus Res. 157:71-75.
Spindler, K.R., A.R. Welton, E.S. Lim, S. Duvvuru, I.W. Althaus, J.E. Imperiale, A.I. Daoud, and E.J. Chesler. 2010. The major locus for mouse adenovirus susceptibility maps to genes of the hematopoietic cell surface-expressed LY6 family. J. Immunol. 184:3055-3062.
Gralinski, L.E., S.L. Ashley, S.D. Dixon, and K.R. Spindler. 2009. Mouse adenovirus type 1-induced breakdown of the blood-brain barrier. J. Virol. 83:9398-9410.
Ashley, S.L., A.R. Welton, K.M. Harwood, N. Van Rooijen, and K.R. Spindler. 2009. Mouse adenovirus type 1 infection of macrophages. Virology 390:307-314.
Robinson, M., B. Li, Y. Ge, D. Ko, S. Yendluri, T. Harding, M. VanRoey, K.R. Spindler, and K. Jooss. 2009. A novel immune-competent murine tumor model for the evaluation of conditionally replication-competent (oncolytic) murine adenoviral vectors. J. Virol. 83:3450-3462.
Raman, S., T.-H. Hsu, S.L. Ashley, and K.R. Spindler. 2009. Integrin and heparan sulfate usage as receptors for mouse adenovirus type 1. J. Virol. 83:2831-2838.
Welton, A.R., L.E. Gralinski, and K.R. Spindler. 2008. Mouse adenovirus infection of natural killer cell-deficient mice. Virology 373:163-170.
Welton, A.R., E.J. Chesler, C. Sturkie, A.U. Jackson, G.N. Hirsch, and K.R. Spindler. 2005. Identification of quantitative trait loci for susceptibility to mouse adenovirus type 1. J. Virol. 79:11517-11522.
