SUNGKYUNKWAN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

In molecular virology lab, we study the gene function and interaction with host of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) that causes several diseases in patients with congenital infections and impaired immune function, and Varicella-Zoster virus (VZV) that causes chickenpox and Zoster. The functions of viral immediate-early regulatory proteins, DNA replication proteins, and tegument proteins are studied using molecular biology, cell biology, and genetic analysis methods. Through studies on the defense mechanisms of cells responding to viral infections and on the functions of viral genes that regulate them, we investigate the interaction between viruses and hosts. We also study how to effectively control the infection of these viruses. Recently, we have been actively conducting research on viral regulation of the host innate immunity, on the mechanisms of virus entry and virion maturation, and on the interaction between viral infection and the cellular ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like modification systems.