Patricia Devaux, Ph.D.

My research interests have evolved around understanding virus entry and dissemination, as well as how viruses escape from innate immunity and how they control the immune response. This research has focused on a negative strand RNA virus, in particular measles virus (MV), which belongs to the morbillivirus genus within the paramyxoviridae family.

Successful viral replication requires evasion of host defense mechanisms that kill infected cells and viruses have developed redundant ways of controlling cellular responses. Like most viruses, upon infection of cells, measles virus is subjected to a variety of cellular antiviral responses, including the IFN response and apoptosis induction.

Previous and current work showed that all three proteins encoded from the MV-P gene control the IFN production and signaling, as well as the induction of apoptosis, specifically reducing the effectiveness of the cellular antiviral responses. Recently, we have shown that viruses unable to control the innate immune response are attenuated, but remained immunogenic in vivo.

The following research project are developed in the lab:

• Characterization of the interferon production and control during infection with Morbilliviruses, in particular measles virus.
• Characterization of the mechanisms by which Morbilliviruses protect the infected cells against apoptosis.
• Characterization of the role of the measles virus V and C proteins in the control of transcription and replication.