Marta Gaglia

LAB WEBSITE:

Gaglia Lab

FOCUS GROUPS:

Immunology; RNA Biology; Virology

RESEARCH DESCRIPTION:

Viruses use a small number of proteins to redirect host pathways and cause large changes in the
physiology of cells and organisms, often in surprising ways. We are particularly interested in
virus-cell interactions in the control and subversion of anti-viral innate immune responses, as
innate immune responses have a crucial and dualistic role on outcome of infection. They can act
as a barrier for the virus, reducing viral replication and disease. However, they can also become
pathogenic, especially if they are hyperactivated or misdirected. Viral proteins that modulate host
responses are thus relevant for disease outcome: they can reduce protective responses that will
curb replication, but also modulate the switch towards hyperactive damaging responses.
My laboratory is currently focusing on two specific examples of virus-cell interactions: 1) the
function of an influenza A virus-encoded immune evasion protein, PA-X, that protects from
immune-related damage, and its interaction with cellular RNA biogenesis pathways; 2) the
hijacking of the cellular apoptotic protease caspase-8 for reduction of anti-viral responses during
infection with Kaposi’s sarcoma associated herpesvirus (KSHV). We combine classical virology
and RNA biology approaches with transcriptomics, proteomics and custom bioinformatics
analysis.

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