John T. Patton, Ph.D.

Senior Investigator

Description of Research Program

Rotaviruses, members of the family Reoviridae, are the most important cause of acute infantile gastroenteritis throughout the world. Despite their pathogenic importance, many of the fundamental events in the replication of these segmented double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) viruses are not understood. A primary aim of the research is to elucidate steps in the packaging and replication of the viral genome, processes that are coordinately linked in rotavirus morphogenesis.

Analysis of the structure and function of rotavirus replication intermediates has shown that as rotavirus messenger RNA (mRNA) is replicated into dsRNA, the mRNA is simultaneously packaged within capsids that serve as precursors of mature virions. Currently, cell-free replication systems are being used to locate and describe the cis-acting signals in viral mRNA that are recognized by the viral replicase. Such cell-free systems are also being used to identify and characterize those viral proteins that recognize the cis-acting signals and to define the role of these proteins in genome replication.

To further elucidate events in the replication of the rotavirus genome, an infectious RNA system is being developed for the rotaviruses. Such a system will allow further probing of events in genome replication and virion assembly and, in particular, will provide the necessary tool to define the assortment signals in the viral RNAs that lead to the assembly of progeny virions containing 11 unique segments of dsRNA. Besides the study of rotavirus molecular biology, the development of an infectious RNA system will allow researchers to identify determinants of rotavirus virulence, to modify and further develop existing rotavirus vaccines, and to examine the possible usefulness of rotaviruses as vector systems for the delivery of antigens of other infectious agents to the gastrointestinal tract.

Memberships

• American Society for Microbiology
• American Society for Virology

Editorial Boards

• Journal of Virology
• Virology

Research Group Members

Dayue Chen, Zenobia Taraporewala, and Patrice Vende.

Selected Publications

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