Professor
Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences
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Herpes simplex virus (HSV) exhibits two different modes of gene expression during its life cycle. During the acute phase of infection all of its genes are expressed. During latency, however, viral gene expression is almost completely repressed. Our interest is to define the nature of this switch between the acute and latent phases of infection. Our approach is to introduce mutations into the viral genome to generate recombinant viruses allowing the study of viral pathogenesis at the molecular level.
A number of viral gene products presently under study are important determinants of viral pathogenesis or alternatively are important for regulating the balance between lytic and latent infection. We are investigating the roles of innate immunity, particularly interferons and interferon-induced factors in modulating acute infections of both mutant and wild-type viruses. We are using knockout mice to investigate whether mutations in host genes can compensate for mutations in viral genes that result in impaired growth in normal mice. In collaboration with Dr. Gary Luker we have also developed a novel non-invasive real-time bioluminescence imaging technology to study viral growth and spread in real time in mice. We are thereby elucidating the specific interplay between viral and host factors which are pivotal in determining the pathogenesis of viral infections.
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Research Publications
Strand SS, Leib DA (2004 Dec). Role of the VP16-binding domain of vhs in viral growth, host shutoff activity, and pathogenesis. J Virol. 78 (24): 13562-72. Full Article >
Strand SS, Vanheyningen TK, Leib DA (2004 Aug). The virion host shutoff protein of herpes simplex virus type 1 has RNA degradation activity in primary neurons. J Virol. 78 (15): 8400-3. Full Article >
Luker GD, Prior JL, Song J, Pica CM, Leib DA (2003 Oct). Bioluminescence imaging reveals systemic dissemination of herpes simplex virus type 1 in the absence of interferon receptors. J Virol. 77 (20): 11082-93. Full Article >
Ward SL, Scheuner D, Poppers J, Kaufman RJ, Mohr I, Leib DA (2003 Apr). In vivo replication of an ICP34.5 second-site suppressor mutant following corneal infection correlates with in vitro regulation of eIF2 alpha phosphorylation. J Virol. 77 (8): 4626-34. Full Article >
Luker GD, Bardill JP, Prior JL, Pica CM, Piwnica-Worms D, Leib DA (2002 Dec). Noninvasive bioluminescence imaging of herpes simplex virus type 1 infection and therapy in living mice. J Virol. 76 (23): 12149-61. Full Article >
Luker GD, Bardill JP, Prior JL, Pica CM, Piwnica-Worms D, Leib DA (2002 Dec). Noninvasive bioluminescence imaging of herpes simplex virus type 1 infection and therapy in living mice. J Virol. 76 (23): 12149-61. Full Article >
Contact Info
David Leib, Ph.D.*
Office Location: 703 McMillan Hosp.
Office Phone: 314-362-2689
Lab Phone: 314-362-3826
Campus Box: 8096
Fax: 314-362-3638
leib@vision.wustl.edu
http://ophthalmology.wustl.edu/labs/leib/
