My research interests lie in understanding the interaction of viruses with the respiratory epithelium. Our efforts are focused on influenza A virus, the severe, acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Andes virus, a South American hantavirus responsible for Hanatavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS).

There are two main focuses to our research program. The first is in how viral proteins target to sites of assembly and identifying the viral and cellular factors that are important for the production of infectious virus particles. For these studies we use influenza A virus to study virus assembly at the plasma membrane and Andes and SARS-CoV to study virus assembly at intracellular sites.

The second research focus of the laboratory is in understanding how viruses can counteract antiviral innate and adaptive immune responses. For these studies we utilize animal models of infection, as well as primary cell cultures of respiratory epithelial cells. By identifying the viral proteins that control the host immune response, we hope to gain a better understanding of how the virus can establish an infection and identify the key host proteins that play a role in controlling virus replication and the immune response to viral infection. In a related line of research, we are investigating how influenza A viruses can adapt to productively infect a new host. Of particular interest is the identification of viral and cellular factors that are important for efficient replication of canine, equine and avian influenza A virus strains to human respiratory epithelial cells.

virus, virus assembly, virus-host interactions, respiratory infections, receptors, cell tropism, vaccines, flu, influenza, SARS-CoV, hantavirus

1989 Selman A. Waksman/David H. Struymeyer Award for Achievement in Biochemistry, Rutgers University

1995 Joel M. Dalrymple Memorial Award, American Society for Virology

2001 National Foundation for Infectious Diseases New Investigator Grant

2001-03 Whitaker Foundation, Young Investigator Award

2001-03 Infectious Diseases Society of America, Wyeth-Lederle Vaccines

New Investigator Award

2007 Diversity Leadership Award – Faculty, Washington University in St. Louis

Li Y, Larrimer A, Curtiss T, Kim J, Jones A, Pekosz A and Olivo PA. Influenza virus assays based on virus-induced reporter cell lines. Influenza and other Respiratory Viruses. In press.

Grantham ML, Wu W-H, Lalime EN, Lorenzo M, Klein SL and Pekosz A. Palmitoylation of the influenza A virus M2 protein is not required for virus replication in vitro but alters virus virulence. Journal of Virology, In press.

Pekosz A, Newby CM, Bose PS and Lutz A. Sialic acid recognition is a key determinant of influenza A virus tropism in murine trachea epithelial cell cultures. Virology. 2009 Mar 30;386(1):61-7. PMID: 19195676

Rowe RK, Suszko JW and Pekosz A. Roles for the Recycling Endosome, Rab8 and Rab11 in hantavirus release from epithelial cells. Virology. 2008 Dec 20;382(2):239-49. PMID: 18951604

Schaecher SR, Diamond MS and Pekosz A. The transmembrane domain of the SARS-CoV ORF7b protein is necessary and sufficient for its retention in the Golgi complex. J Virol. 2008 Oct;82(19):9477-91. PMID: 18632859

Schaecher SR, Stabenow J, Oberle C, Schriewer J, Sagartz JE, Buller RM, and Pekosz, A. An Immunosuppressed Syrian Golden Hamster Model for SARS-CoV Infection. Virology. 2008 Oct 25;380(2):312-21. PMID: 18760437

Wu W-H and Pekosz A. Extending the cytoplasmic tail of the influenza a virus M2 protein leads to reduced virus replication in vivo but not in vitro. J Virol. 2008 Jan;82(2):1059-63. PMID: 17989186

Schaecher SR, Touchette E, Schriewer J, Buller RM and Pekosz A., Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus gene 7 products contribute to virus-induced apoptosis. J Virol. 2007 Oct;81(20):11054-68. PMID: 17686858

Newby, CM, Sabin, L and Pekosz A. The RNA Binding Domain of Influenza A Virus NS1 Protein Affects Secretion of Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha, Interleukin-6, and Interferon in Primary Murine Tracheal Epithelial Cells. J Virol. 2007 Sep;81(17):9469-80. PMID: 17596305.

Lenschow DJ, Lai C, Frias-Staheli N, Giannakopoulos NV, Lutz A, Wolff T, Osiak A, Levine B, Schmidt RE, Garcia-Sastre A, Leib DA, Pekosz A, Knobeloch K-P, Horak I, and Virgin HV IV. IFN-stimulated gene 15 functions as a critical antiviral molecule against influenza, herpes, and Sindbis viruses. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007 Jan 23;104(4):1371-6. PMID: 17227866.

Schaecher SR, Mackenzie J and Pekosz A. The ORF7b Protein of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV) Is Expressed in Virus-Infected Cells and Incorporated into SARS-CoV Particles. J Virol. 2007 Jan;81(2):718-31. PMID: 17079322.

Newby, CM, Rowe, RK and Pekosz A. Influenza A virus infection of primary differentiated airway epithelial cell cultures derived from Syrian golden hamsters. Virology. 2006 Oct 10;354(1):80-90. PMID: 16876846.

McCown, MF and Pekosz, A. Distinct Domains of the Influenza A Virus M2 Protein Cytoplasmic Tail Mediate Binding to the M1 Protein and Facilitate Infectious Virus Production. J Virol. 2006 Aug;80(16):8178-89. PMID: 16873274.

Ibricevic A, Pekosz A, Walter MJ, Newby C, Battaile JT, Brown EG, Holtzman MJ, Brody SL. Influenza virus receptor specificity and cell tropism in mouse and human airway epithelial cells. J Virol. 2006 Aug;80(15):7469-80. PMID: 16840327.

Rowe, R.K. and Pekosz, A. Bidirectional virus secretion and nonciliated cell tropism following Andes virus infection of primary airway epithelial cell cultures.. J Virol. 2006 Feb;80(3):1087-97. PMID: 16414986.

Lutz, A., Dyall, J., Olivo, PD, and Pekosz, A. Virus-inducible reporter genes as a tool for detecting and quantifying influenza A virus replication. J Virol Methods. 2005 Jun;126(1-2):13-20. PMID: 15847914

McCown, MF, and Pekosz, A. The cytoplasmic tail of the influenza A virus M2 protein is required for viral replication and efficient genome packaging. J Virol. 2005 Mar;79(6):3595-605. PMID: 15731254

Nelson, CA, Pekosz, A, Lee, CA, Diamond, MS and Fremont,DH. Structure and intracellular targeting of the SARS-coronavirus ORF 7a encoded accessory protein. Structure, 2005;Jan;13(1):75-85. PMID: 15642263

Rowe, RK, Brody, SL and Pekosz A. Differentiated cultures of primary hamster airway epithelial cells. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Anim. 2004 Nov;40(10):303-311. PMID: 15780007