Christopher F. Basler, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Microbiology
Email: chris.basler@mssm.edu
Phone: 212-241-7318
Fax: 212-534-1684
Mailing Address
One Gustave L. Levy Place
Box 1124
New York, NY 10029
Training and Education
PhD, Albert Einstein School of Medicine, New York
Current Research
My interests lie in elucidating the molecular determinants of virulence of emerging viruses, including Ebola virus and pandemic influenza virus. Two main avenues of research are being pursued.
1. Viruses have evolved ways to counteract the host innate immune response. Of particular importance are viral proteins which either inhibit type I interferon production or which inhibit type I interferon-induced signal transduction. Such proteins are essential for the virulence of several “model” viruses, including influenza virus and herpes simplex virus. We are seeking to identify novel, viral interferon-antagonists by screening viral proteins for their ability to facilitate the growth of viruses in the face of an interferon-induced antiviral response. One viral interferon-antagonist identified by such methods is the Ebola virus VP35 protein. We are currently elucidating the mechanism(s) by which VP35 exerts this effect and seek to determine the contribution of VP35 Ebola virus pathogenesis.
2. We are also seeking to elucidate the molecular determinants of virulence of the 1918 pandemic influenza virus. The 1918 influenza virus is estimated to have caused more than 20 million deaths worldwide, but the reasons for this high mortality are poorly understood. Because the influenza A virus strain which caused the 1918 pandemic is now extinct, we are involved in a collaborative “paleovirolgy” project. Using sequence data generated by Dr. Jeffery Taubenberger (Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington D. C.) and “reverse genetics” techniques developed by Drs. Garcia-Sastre and Palese (Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, N.Y.), we are reconstructing the individual genes from this now extinct influenza virus and studying the function of their individual gene products and analyzing the function of these genes in the context of recombinant influenza viruses. These studies should ultimately shed light not only on the 1918 influenza virus, but also provide new insight into the pathogenesis of all human influenza viruses.
¤Selected Publications
¤Laboratory Links
