Associate Professor of Virology
Deputy Director of the Umeå Center for Microbial Research, UCMR.
The complex and dynamic nature of the plasma membrane is essential for the multitude of physiological processes that occur at the cell surface. The viral infectious cycle begins and ends with cell surface interactions, from finding the target cell for infection to the escape of viral progeny. Thus, understanding the mechanisms that underlie how viruses interact with the cell surface is essential to designing viral therapies.
My group utilizes a multidisciplinary approach based on the combination of in vitro cell-surface mimics of varying complexity and live-cell microscopy to elucidate these mechanisms. In particular, my group is currently focused on the mechanisms modulating the binding and release of Herpes Simplex Virus from cell-surface carbohydrates. Additionally, we are developing and implementing bioanalytical assays to detect, sort, and characterize viruses on the single particle level in order to better understand the role of population heterogeneity in viral populations. Finally, we are also developing biosensor platforms for the testing of anti-viral drugs.
For more information, visit the external group webpage: https://ballylab.com/