Microviruses contains two spike proteins, the major spike protein, depicted above, and the minor spike protein, also called the DNA pilot protein. Currently we are using dominant negative DNA pilot proteins to investigate how it  pilots the infecting viral DNA from the outer membrane to the site of DNA replication on the inner membrane. Assembly and eclipse mechanisms are being investigated by constructing chimeric virions by interchanging major spike proteins between related microviruses.

Current investigator: Zhenyu Li
Alumni investigator: Mark Ruboyianes

Collaborators: Dr. Gino Cingolani's group (Thomas Jefferson University) and Dr. Michael Rossmann's group (Purdue University).


Ruboyianes, M. V., M. Chen, M. S. DuBrava, J. E. J. Cherwa, and B. A. Fane. 2009. The expression of N-terminal deletion DNA pilot proteins inhibit the early stages of øX174 replication. J. Virol. 83: 9952-6.