Charles J. Russell Lab

In our study of RNA viruses, we focus on the role of envelope surface glycoproteins. Because RNA viruses are membrane-bound viruses, they have a cellular envelope from which proteins protrude. These protruding glycoproteins bind to, and fuse with, the host cell membrane so a virus can center a cell. 

Because of the functional role of these proteins, we study their structure, role in viral entry, and how mutations can lead to infection and transmission across species. Our work allows us to deepen our understanding of the particular role glycoproteins play and explore how we can engineer and leverage these proteins in vaccine development. 

Our understanding of envelope surface glycoproteins extends to our collaborative work in vaccine development. We partner with the Hurwitz laboratory in the Department of Infectious Diseases to leverage our knowledge of these proteins in the development of a Sendai virus vector that targets parainfluenza virus type 1 (PIV1)—the cause of croup in babies. With this vector, we create vaccines against other respiratory viruses like RSV, PIV3, and human metapneumovirus. This work is particularly exciting as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is currently testing the vaccine in humans, and our partnership with the Serum Institute of India enables us to plan for large-scale clinical trials.

To examine viral infection in immunocompromised hosts and examine potential therapeutic treatments, we employ luciferase infection models. With the luciferase infection models, we can examine chronic, long-term infections via noninvasive bioluminescent imaging. We start with a bioluminescent paramyxovirus or a bioluminescent influenza virus and then induce an immunocompromised state that mimics a chemotherapeutic response in our experimental model.  We study the kinetics and dynamics of the infection over time, which offers insight as to when we can best introduce treatment during infection. The use of luciferase infection models also allows us to evaluate which treatments are most effective to counteract an infection.

We are currently evaluating the use of a new drug—a polymerase inhibitor—to treat influenza in immunocompromised experimental models. We hope to discover whether the infection rebounds at a later point in time so we can help devise a better therapeutic strategy. The goal of this work is to uncover a general notion of what infection looks like in immunocompromised individuals and what we can do to optimize treatment. 

Because of the innovative environment and access to cutting-edge resources at St. Jude, our laboratory can expand beyond the study of one step in the virus replication cycle. We can look at viral infectious diseases in experimental models and conduct translational, collaborative work that contributes to ongoing vaccine development.