Jae U. Jung

Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
Tumor Virology Division
New England Regional Primate Research Center
One Pine Hill Drive, Box 9102
Southborough, MA 01772
Tel: (508) 624-8083
Fax: (508) 786-1416
Email: jae_jung@hms.harvard.edu
10 postdoctoral fellows, 2 graduate students

Research in my laboratory is focused principally on understanding the molecular mechanisms of lymphoproliferative diseases induced by the gamma-2 herpesviruses and on developing primate models for human cancers. The gamma-2 herpesviruses include murine herpesvirus 68 (MHV 68), herpesvirus saimiri (HVS), and Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV, also called human herpesvirus 8). KSHV is consistently associated with Kaposi's sarcoma, which is a multifocal vascular tumor of mixed cellular composition and is the most common tumor in patients with AIDS. Infection of New World primates with HVS results in rapidly progressing malignant T cell lymphomas. MHV 68 provides a small animal model for virus-host interaction. A striking feature of these gamma-2 herpesviruses is that they contain a number of cellular homologs that could possibly contribute to the progression of disease associated with the virus. Biochemical and immunological analysis of individual viral genes in cell culture and experimental infection of recombinant herpesviruses in animals are used to define their role in the escape from host immune surveillance and the onset of disease.

The Orthopoxvirus genus of poxviridae family includes variola and vaccinia. Variola causes smallpox, a once common and devastating disease and considered a potential biological terrorist weapon. Vaccinia was used as a vaccine to protect against smallpox. By utilizing well-established biochemical, proteomic, and genetic analyses, we are investigating the poxvirus-mediated immune evasion strategies and host range restriction.

References:

• Gwack Y., Nakamura H., Lee SH., Souvlis, J., Yustein JT, Gygi S. Kung, HJ., and Jung, JU. PARP-1 and Ste-20-like kinase hKFC act as repressors for gamma-2 herpesviral lytic replication. 2003. Molecular and Cellular Biology. 23:8283-8294.
• Lee SH, Chung YH, Cho NH, Gwack YS, and Jung, JU. Modulation of T cell receptor signal transduction by herpesviral signaling adaptor protein. 2004. In press in Molecular and Cellular Biology.
• Feng, P, Scott, C., and Jung, JU. Activation of cellular ubiquitin-dependent protein degradation by Kaposi's sarcoma associated herpesvirus Protein. 2004. Molecular and Cellular Biology. 24:3938-3948.