Overview
Our laboratory investigates the mechanisms of entry and fusion of enveloped viruses, including HIV-1, Influenza virus, arenaviruses, coronaviruses, and others. We use functional assays and real-time virus tracking to delineate the entry and fusion steps of infection of diverse viruses. We visualize the release of single virus content into the cytoplasm, and subsequent viral core trafficking and uncoating that culminate in infection. We are also interested in understanding the role of multiple HIV-1 capsid-interacting host factors in early steps of infection. A major focus in the lab is on uncovering the mechanisms of antiviral activity of host restriction factors that target virus entry/fusion, such as IFITM3 and SERINC5. In conjunction with live cell imaging, we employ super-resolution microscopy and correlative light-electron microscopy (CLEM) techniques to delineate structural intermediates of virus entry.