Jul 30, 2020
What exactly does a virus do to
invade our bodies? Scientist St. Patrick Reid addresses the
mechanics through specific virus pathologies.
He addresses
- how viruses use proteins to undercut the immune system and ensure replication,
- how the chikungunya virus infection has become more prevalent and often leaves chronic symptoms, and
- why these lasting effects from this RNA virus are especially puzzling and how scientists approach such questions.
St Patrick Reid is an assistant
professor in the Department of Pathology and Microbiology at the
University of Nebraska. He focuses on the virology of proteins
encoded by highly
pathogenic viruses like the chikungunya virus infection. He
explains what this means by describing his graduate and early
career studies on Ebola and other
host-pathogen interaction examples.
Ebola is able to invade an organisms by encoding for proteins that
block the immune system from responding. This gives the virus
enough time to amplify itself and replicate. When the body is
finally able to react, the virus is so pervasive it over reacts,
often unleashing a dangerous over-response; in fact, this is what
happens with COVID-19.
Dr. Reid than describes the
history of the chikungunya virus infection and how it has made its
way from one part of the world to another, including South America
and the southern United States. Transmitted by mosquitoes, it often
results in a debilitating arthritis that can last for years and
scientists don't understand how or why. In fact, that's one of his
areas of research, to understand its pathology. As an RNA virus, it
does not invade the nucleus and change the genome.
He explains some possible theories and his own approach to solving
this mystery. He also discusses his thoughts on COVID-19 from his
protein-focused research and describes the magnanimous ways
researchers are working together across the world to find ways to
combat its effects.
The best way to keep an eye on
his work and learn more include following him on Twitter as
@StPatrickReid3 as well as reviewing his university lab web
page at
unmc.edu/pathology-research/microbiology/virology/reidlab.
Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK