Member SpotlightsInvestigating DNA Tumor Virus Regulation for Insights into Designing Novel Therapeutics Van Wilson, Ph.D. A Member Since January 1998  Van Wilson’ interest in virology began when he was an undergraduate at Georgia Institute of Technology. However, when he went to Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio for graduate school there was no opportunity to pursue his interest and he instead elected to develop a strong background in protein biochemistry by studying bacterial transport systems. Specifically, he worked on sequencing the arabinose operon of E. coli. His work was done at the time that signal sequences were being discovered and recognized as key elements for regulating protein transport.Upon completing his Ph.D. thesis, he accepted a postdoctoral fellowship with Peter Tegtmeyer who was a well-known and respected virologist. During the early 1980’s Dr. Tegtmeyer’s lab was an especially exciting place to be because of its groundbreaking work in demonstrating how proteins interact with cis elements in the DNA to control cellular processes. This work was done in SV40 using viral tumor antigen purified and analyzed by Dr. Wilson and others in the lab. Through networking with colleagues, Dr. Wilson found out about an opportunity to come to a newly formed department at Texas A&M University in College Station. He interviewed and was accepted for an academic position in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology in the College of Medicine, which is now part of the Health Science Center (and is now separate from the University). The department was offering brand new, fully equipped laboratory facilities and a stimulating academic environment—a very attractive offer. Dr. Wilson has now been at The Health Science Center for fifteen years and has been grateful for the opportunity he has had over this period to help develop the department in terms of its research focus as well as its graduate program. He currently team teaches a graduate level course entitled, “Molecular Biology of Animal Viruses” as well as guest lectures on pathogenic viruses in the integrated organ based course for medical students. The research focus of Dr. Wilson’s lab is on developing a molecular understanding of the life cycle and biology of papovaviruses: papillomarvirus and the avian polyomavirus. The objectives of his lab’s papillomavirus research is to further elucidate the mechanisms and regulation of eukaryotic DNA synthesis and to use information regarding its replication requirements to design therapeutics against these viral infections and their resulting diseases (e.g., cervical cancer). A current major interest is the role of sumoylation, a novel post-translational modification system, in regulating viral protein activities. Dr. Wilson’s lab also investigates the mechanisms of pathogenesis, epidemiology and genome organization and function of avian polyomaviruses. These viruses cause a wide range of diseases in various psittacine birds (e.g., parrots, cockatoos, etc). Recently, his lab demonstrated that the various diseases seen in different psittacine species are all due to a single type of avian polyomavirus rather than multiple, different viruses as previously thought. Dr. Wilson hypothesizes that the diverse disease manifestations observed in various species are instead the result of specific virus-host interactions. These insights will significantly impact the way these diseases are treated by veterinarians. While Dr. Wilson’s children were growing up, he took time away from the lab to attend and do sporting activities with them. Now that one is away at college and the other is a senior in high school, he finds he has more opportunity to indulge in the pleasure of reading. He especially enjoys science-orientated books and biographies. ### << Previous Next >> [ View All Member Spotlights ] |
|
