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Office: (859) 257-5577
Fax: (859) 257-8994
Lab: (859) 257-5648
Email: gluo0@uky.edu
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Guangxiang Luo, MD. MPH.
Professor
Doctoral Studies: Hunan Medical University, China.
Postdoctoral: Fox Chase Cancer Center and Mount Sinai School of Medicine.
Research Statement:
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a common cause of liver diseases such as chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It infects approximately 4 million people in the United States and 170 million people worldwide, posing a major threat to global health. HCV is an enveloped RNA virus containing a single-stranded, positive sense RNA molecule of approximately 9.6 kb in length. The viral RNA genome consists of a long open reading frame (ORF), flanked by the untranslated regions at both the 5' (5'UTR) and 3' ends (3'UTR). The major research interest of my laboratory is centered on the molecular genetic analysis of HCV replication, virus-host interaction, and molecular pathogenesis. Our overall objective is to combine reverse genetic, biochemical, cell biological, proteomic, and transgenic approaches to a thorough understanding of the molecular mechanisms of HCV RNA expression, replication, virion assembly, and viral pathogenesis. We have developed novel and robust systems of human and mouse cell cultures for the study of HCV replication and virus-host interaction. Weare interested in determining the functions of HCV proteins and the conserved HCV RNA sequences/structures as well as cellular factors in HCV replication. We are also developing transgenic mouse models to study HCV replication and to determine the molecular basis underlying the chronic HCV infection and viral carcinogenesis in vivo. Additionally, we are developing novel technologies leading to the discovery of new antiviral therapies and effective vaccines for the control of HCV infection. Furthermore, we are interested in the determination of the underlying mechanisms of avian influenza virus pathogenesis and the discovery and development of antiviral intervention against avian influenza viruses.
Selected Recent Publications:
Kyung-Soo Chang, Zhaohui Cai, Chen Zhang, Ganes C. Sen, Bryan R. G. Williams, and Guangxiang Luo* (2006) Replication of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) RNA in Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts: Protein Kinase R (PKR)-Dependent and PKRIndependent Mechanisms for Controlling HCV RNA Replication and Mediating Interferon Activities. Journal of Virology 80:7364-7374. PDF
Chang, KS, and G. Luo. (2006) The polypyrimidine tract-binding protein (PTB) is required for efficient replication of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA. Virus Research 115:1-8. PDF
Zhaohui Cai, MinKyung Yi, Chen Zhang, and Guangxiang Luo. (2005) Mutagenesis Analysis of the rGTP-Specific Binding Site of Hepatitis C Virus RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase. Journal of Virology 79:11607-11617. PDF
Zhaohui Cai, Chen Zhang, Kyung-Soo Chang, Jieyun Jiang, Byung-Chul Ahn, Takaji Wakita, T. Jake Liang, and Guangxiang Luo (2005) Robust Production of Infectious Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) from Stably HCV cDNA-Transfected Human Hepatoma Cells. Journal of Virology 79:13963-13973. PDF
Theo Heller†, Satoru Saito†, Jonathan Auerbach, Tarice Williams, Tzivia Rachel Moreen, Allison Jazwinski, Brian Cruz, Neha Jeurkar, Ronda Sapp, Guangxiang Luo, and T. Jake Liang. (2005) An in vitro model of hepatitis C virion production. PNAS 102:2579-1583. PDF
Chen Zhang, Zhaohui Cai, Young-Chan Kim, Ranjith Kumar, Fenghua Yuan, Pei-Yong Shi, Cheng Kao, and Guangxiang Luo. (2005) Stimulation of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Nonstructural Protein 3 (NS3) Helicase Activity by the NS3 Protease Domain and by HCV RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase. Journal of Virology 79:8687-8697. PDF
Luo, G. (2004) Molecular Virology of Hepatitis C Virus. Hepatitis Prevention and Treatment. Birkhauser Verlah, Switzerland. P67-85.
Cai, Z.; T. J. Liang, and G. Luo (2004) Effects of mutations of the initiation nucleotides on hepatitis C virus RNA replication in cell culture. Journal of Virology 78:3633-3643. PDF
El-Hage, N. and G. Luo (2003) Replication of hepatitis C virus RNA occurs in the membrane-bound replication complex containing the nonstructural viral proteins and viral RNA. J. Gen. Virol. 84:2761-2769. PDF
Luo, G., S. Xin, and Z.-H. Cai (2003) Role of the 5’-proximal stem-loop structure of the 5’ untranslated region in replication and translation of hepatitis C virus RNA. Journal of Virology 77:3312-3318. PDF
Luo, G., R. Hamatake, D.M. Mathis, J. Racela, K. L. Rigat, J. Lemm, and R. Colonno. (2000) De Novo Initiation of RNA Synthesis by the RNA Dependent RNA Polymerase (NS5B) of the hepatitis C Virus. Journal of Virology. 74(2) 851-863. PDF
Luo, G. (1999) Cellular proteins bind to the poly(U) tract of the 3’ UTR of hepatitis C virus RNA genome. Virology 256(1):105-118. PDF
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