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Dr. Ly’s laboratory focuses on understanding virus-host interactions in the replication and pathogenesis of zoonotic viral pathogens (arenaviruses such as Lassa virus, coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV-2, and influenza viruses) and developing novel preventative and treatment measures. The current research projects in the Ly laboratory have revealed novel mechanisms by which arenaviruses and SARS-CoV-2 suppress host innate immunity to promote viral replication and cause severe and lethal infections. The Ly laboratory also develops novel, safe, and effective viral vectors and vaccines against various human and animal pathogens. They have successfully used various animal models, such as mice, guinea pigs, chickens, turkeys, swine, etc. to evaluate the protective efficacy of some of the new antivirals and vaccines against different communicable diseases.
Dr. Ly and his laboratory provide exceptional training for undergraduate (BS), graduate (MS, PhD), and professional (DVM, DVM-PhD, MD-PhD) students interested in basic and translational research in viral replication, pathogenesis, and antiviral and vaccine developments.
Dr. Ly serves as Director of the Graduate Program in Comparative & Molecular Biosciences and as a coordinator of a flagship graduate course for the NIH T32 training program in Comparative Pathology and Medicine in the College of Veterinary Medicine.
Arenavirus/Coronavirus/Influenza virus, Innate Immunity, Vaccine Development. Antiviral Development
Dr. Ly, PubMed
Lassa fever virus infection can lead to severe and sometime fatal hemorrhagic fever diseases in humans, for which there is no vaccine or effective drug. Studies of Lassa (LASV) and other pathogenic arenaviruses have been hindered by the strict requirement for BSL-4 containment to work with these select agents. We have developed an infectious molecular clone for a prototypic BSL2 arenavirus (Pichinde virus) as well as a safe and convenient surrogate animal model for LASV. These novel systems have afforded us with unique resources and unprecedented opportunities to investigate in details the processes of viral entry/infection, genome replication/transcription and virulence. We are also interested in characterizing novel mechanisms of host innate-immune suppression by these viruses. These efforts may lead the development of effective therapeutics against this deadly viral pathogen.
Dr. Ly’s laboratory also focuses on understanding virus-host interactions in the replication and pathogenesis of other zoonotic viral pathogens, such as coronaviruses (SARS-CoV-2) and influenza viruses, and developing novel preventative and treatment measures against them. The current research projects in the Ly laboratory have revealed novel mechanisms by which arenaviruses and SARS-CoV-2 suppress host innate immunity to promote viral replication and cause severe and lethal infections. The Ly laboratory also develops novel, safe, and effective viral vectors and vaccines against various human and animal pathogens. They have successfully used various animal models, such as mice, guinea pigs, chickens, turkeys, swine, etc. to evaluate the protective efficacy of some of the new antivirals and vaccines against different communicable diseases.