Fellowships in Vaccine Discovery and Development

Deborah H. Spector

Fellowship Director
Deborah H. Spector, Ph. D.
Professor
Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine
UCSD Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Research Background:

The research in Dr. Spector's laboratory focuses on the molecular and cellular biology and in vivo pathogenesis of two herpesviruses, Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 (HSV-2) and Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV). The hallmark of herpesvirus infections is the establishment of a lifelong, latent infection that can reactivate to cause multiple rounds of disease. HCMV is the major viral cause of birth defects, poses serious problems for transplant patients, and has been implicated in the development of atherosclerosis. HSV-2 is the cause of genital herpes and can be transmitted to the newborn at birth. The long-term goal of our work is to determine at the molecular and cellular level how the interplay of viral and host functions relates to the in vivo viral pathogenesis, and to use this information to develop effective strategies for treatment and prevention of disease.

More information available at: Spector Lab.

Area of Fellowships: Viral Pathogenesis, Vaccines, and Therapeutics

  1. HCMV Viral Gene Expression as a Drug Target The HCMV protein, IE2 86, is essential for viral replication. It is the master switch for the viral infection, and the goal is to elucidate the functional domains of this protein for development of therapeutic drugs.
  2. Host Cell Functions as a Therapeutic Target HCMV infection markedly affects key components of the cell cycle, resulting in cell cycle arrest. A major target is the ubiquitin-proteasome degradation pathway. The virus is completely dependent on continued proteasome activity for viral gene expression, and thus selective proteasome inhibitors may be an effective therapeutic approach.
  3. Vaccine Development Against Persistent Viruses The Spector lab has developed a unique strategy for designing vaccines against viruses (particularly herpesviruses) that persist and establish latency and has demonstrated that it works in mouse models of cytomegalovirus and HSV-2 infections. Current research focuses on testing whether these vaccines will prevent infection in guinea pig models, which more closely resemble human disease. The goal is to use this approach for the development of vaccines that will prevent HCMV and HSV-2 infection and disease in humans.

Fellowship Program Objectives:

Learn about vaccine discovery and development

Coursework/Training

  • Molecular and cellular biology of viral infections
  • Host-viral pathogen interactions
  • Adaptive immune responses
  • Mammalian cell cycle controls

Unique skills fellows will acquire during the program:

  • Propagating viruses in tissue culture and animals
  • Vast array of techniques used in molecular and cellular biology
  • Designing experiments, critical analyses of data, and oral and written presentation of research

Time Allocation: two years