Selena Sagan
Microbiology and Immunology
McGill University
Canada
Biography
Division: Faculty Members Branch: Virology Location: Lyman Duff Medical Building
Research Interest
Hepatitis C virus, Dengue and Zika viruses represent a significant threat to global health. As positive-sense RNA viruses, their viral genomes must serve as templates for translation, replication and packaging. However, how viruses coordinate and regulate these activities remains a mystery. In my laboratory, we study RNA-RNA and protein-RNA interactions important to the life cycles of these viruses. We aim to understand: Which regions of the genome mediate these events? How are these events regulated? What host/viral factors are involved? How can we interfere with these processes? What can this teach us about cellular RNA regulation? This research will further our understanding of viral RNA accumulation, regulation, and protein-RNA interactions, and may provide new avenues for antiviral intervention for these important human pathogens.
