Expert on the transmission of viruses from animals to humans available to speak about Ebola
July 28, 2014
David Sanders, an associate professor of biological sciences at Purdue University, has studied Ebola virus and found evidence that suggests it may have at one time been associated with a bird host. Sanders conducted research on the Zaire strain of Ebola virus and found that the entry of Ebola virus is most similar biochemically to the entry of bird retroviruses. His research uncovered the first step in priming the virus for entry and has important implications for how the virus escapes the adaptive immune system and causes disease. Sanders studies the envelope proteins of viruses, with a focus on viruses that cause human disease. These proteins are responsible for binding and fusing the virus to target cell membranes. Sanders also looks at ways to use viruses for gene-transfer and gene-therapy applications and is an expert in the transmission of viruses from animals to humans.
CONTACT: 765-494-6453, retrovir@purdue.edu
Faculty website: http://bilbo.bio.purdue.edu/~viruswww/Sanders_home/sanders_main.html
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Purdue research hints that birds could spread Ebola virus
Purdue works to transform Ebola virus from killer to healer
Writer: Elizabeth K. Gardner, 765-494-2081, ekgardner@purdue.edu