Peter Halfmann
Credentials: Pathobiological Sciences Department
Position title: Pathogenesis of filo-,corona,- and influenza viruses
Email: halfmanp@svm.vetmed.wisc.edu
Phone: 608-262-2019
Address:
575 Science Drive
Madison, WI 53711
LAB WEBSITE
FOCUS GROUPS:
Virology
RESEARCH DESCRIPTION:
Our research focuses on decrypting the pathogenicity of respiratory viruses, such as influenza viruses and coronaviruses, as well as hemorrhagic fever viruses like Ebola and Marburg viruses. We aim to uncover and characterize host factors and viral determinants that drive differences in disease severity and transmissibility between different virus species or isolates. Using reverse genetics systems, a method to generate live virus from cDNA plasmids, we
can generate viruses from viral RNA or publicly available sequence data, enabling us to study phenotypic differences between virus isolates at the molecular level, even down to single amino acid changes. This capability allows us to explore how specific mutations influence a specific viral phenotype. The information gathered from these studies along with the unique tools, techniques, and reagents generated in this laboratory allows us to develop and evaluate novel medical countermeasures against these viruses to help improve public health.