Jeffrey Michael Bergelson

Biography

Dr. Jeffrey Michael Bergelson, is employed as Professor of Department of Pediatrics at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He received his MD from University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. His research interests include: Coxsackieviruses— non-enveloped viruses that cause neurologic and cardiac disease in humans)— interact with at least two receptors during virus infection— CAR (the coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor), and DAF (CD55, a complement regulatory molecule). On polarized epithelial cells, which are likely the first targets of natural infection, CAR is sequestered in intercellular junctions, and is inaccessible to virus; in contrast, DAF is expressed on the cell surface. We have found that DAF-mediated signals are important for virus infection of polarized cells. We are interested in defining the signaling molecules and other cellular factors required for coxsackievirus infection of polarized cells, and the mechanisms by which other viruses infect these cells. We are studying the cell biology of virus entry, with a focus on understanding the separate roles of the two receptors during the entry process. We have also developed transgenic and conditional knockout systems with which to examine the function of the two receptors during infection in vivo.

Research Interest

Coxsackieviruses— non-enveloped viruses that cause neurologic and cardiac disease in humans)— interact with at least two receptors during virus infection— CAR (the coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor), and DAF (CD55, a complement regulatory molecule). On polarized epithelial cells, which are likely the first targets of natural infection, CAR is sequestered in intercellular junctions, and is inaccessible to virus; in contrast, DAF is expressed on the cell surface. We have found that DAF-mediated signals are important for virus infection of polarized cells. We are interested in defining the signaling molecules and other cellular factors required for coxsackievirus infection of polarized cells, and the mechanisms by which other viruses infect these cells. We are studying the cell biology of virus entry, with a focus on understanding the separate roles of the two receptors during the entry process. We have also developed transgenic and conditional knockout systems with which to examine the function of the two receptors during infection in vivo.