Molecular Virology

The Molecular Virology Program at Yale University is a campus-wide, interdepartmental program designed to coordinate and facilitate the study of viruses and viral diseases.

Mission and specific goals

The mission of the Molecular Virology Program at Yale is to facilitate the acquisition of new insights into virus biology and cellular function through the study of viruses and to develop novel approaches to inhibit viral infection or treat viral diseases. The goals of the Molecular Virology program include:

• To facilitate the conduct of innovative research on various phases of virus life cycles, including virus entry, assembly, and structure; genome replication and recombination; transcription; and translation; in order to understand the basic biology of these processes and to identify targets for therapy
• To facilitate the study of the interactions of viruses with their host cells to gain new insights into both the virus and the host and to unravel aspects of disease pathogenesis to unravel aspects of disease pathogenesis, including viral-induced carcinogenesis
• To facilitate the discovery of novel antiviral approaches and drugs antiviral approaches and drugs, including novel vaccination strategies
• To provide outstanding training in virology
• To foster communication and collaboration among all scientists with interests in virology at Yale, including basic virologists, computational biologists, epidemiologists, and clinicians

Because viruses are critically dependent on their host cells and have co-evolved with them, studies of viruses have historically provided numerous insights into basic cellular biology. Viruses are also important vectors for gene therapy and vaccination, and viral gene products may have important research and clinical uses. Increased understanding of viruses has also revolutionized the treatment and prevention of disease, but the emergence of diseases such as AIDS, avian influenza, and SARS demonstrates that viral diseases remain an ongoing problem with staggering public health implications. In addition, viral-associated cancers are a leading cause of death, chronic viral diseases cause significant morbidity, and bioterrorism based on pathogenic viruses is a serious concern. Thus, the study of viruses will continue to provide important biological insights and suggest new strategies for coping with serious human diseases.

Yale has a rich tradition in virology and great strength in many disciplines relevant to the study of viruses: structural biology and biochemistry; studies of DNA replication, damage, and repair; RNA science; immunobiology; cell biology; microbial pathogenesis; genetics and evolution; bioinformatics and computational biology; epidemiology; and infectious disease research. The activities of the Molecular Virology Program are designed to continue this tradition and exploit these strengths by coordinating and facilitating virology research at Yale.

• Seminars in Virology: Seminars of interest are sponsored by the Molecular Virology Program and other academic units of the University including the Microbiology Graduate Program.
• Molecular Virology and Oncology Group Meetings: These are monthly, informal research-in-progress talks supported by the Yale Comprehensive Cancer Center. Call 203-785-4862 for more information.
• Stephen F. Degar, Ph.D., Memorial Lecture: This is an annual distinguished lectureship in the areas of Tumor Virology and AIDS research, sponsored by the Yale Comprehensive Cancer Center.
• Microbiology Retreat: This is an annual one-day retreat of Yale faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and students sponsored by the Microbiology Graduate Program. For more information, contact Brett Lindenbach (brett.lindenbach@yale.edu).

Prospective graduate students with an interest in virology can apply for admission to the Microbiology Track of the Combined Graduate Program in the Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS) at Yale. More information about the BBS.

Yale undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral fellows with interests in virology are directed to the following courses:

• Ecology & Evolution of Infectious Disease EEB 228b/728b. (Contact Paul.Turner@yale.edu)
• Evasion of Host Defenses by Viruses, Bacteria, and Eucaryotic Parasites, MBIO 700b (contact Peter.tattersall@yale.edu).
• Molecular Biology of Animal Viruses, GEN734a (contact Brett.lindenbach@yale.edu)
• Seminal Papers on the Foundations of Modern Microbiology, MBIO 700a (contact Peter.tattersall@yale.edu)

Prospective postdoctoral research fellows should directly contact individual faculty members. See Virology laboratories.

Clinicians interested in post-doctoral training in Pediatric or Adult Infectious Diseases should directly contact Dr. George Miller, Professor of Pediatrics (George.miller@yale.edu) or Dr. Vincent Quagliarello, Professor of Internal Medicine (Vincent.quagliarello@yale.edu).