As there was no effect on transforming activity in vitro, strain-specific factors must affect virus–host interactions that are not detectable using cultured cells. Other findings include the significant effect of the structure of the viral regulatory region on both oncogenic potential and vertical transmission in vivo. Viral microRNA reduced viral DNA levels in infected tissues and may contribute to the establishment of persistent infections. Recent results from the hamster model identified broad tissue tropism for SV40 and provided the first evidence of expression and function of SV40 microRNA in vivo. We have developed the Syrian golden hamster small animal model to study SV40 pathogenesis of infection and disease. We have identified rare variants of polyomaviruses, recovered from immunosuppressed hosts, that have lost the ability to express viral microRNAs. Sequence analysis of viral isolates has revealed differences in the structure of the noncoding viral regulatory region as well as the existence of a variable region at the C-terminus of T-ag that can classify SV40 strains into genogroups. It is a complex protein that possesses multiple functions important for replicating the viral DNA and for dysregulating cell cycle control. The large tumor antigen (T-ag) of SV40 is the major transforming protein of the virus, responsible for tumor causation in hamsters and transformation of many cell types in culture. As a model tumor virus, SV40 has provided many fundamental insights into the molecular basis of carcinogenesis. Originally isolated from monkeys, SV40 is a small DNA virus that is able to transform cells in culture and induce tumors in hamsters. The Butel laboratory studies the biology and molecular biology of the polyomaviruses, with a primary focus on polyomavirus SV40. Polyomavirus Pathogenesis of Infections and Disease
DR. BUTEL IN MASSACUSSETS PROFESSIONAL
Melnick Professor of Virology, Baylor College of Medicine Professional Interests and Fulgham, G., Texas AandM University Press, 1997) Recipient, 2002 Distinguished Alumnus of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Award, Baylor College of Medicine Kansas State University Alumni Fellow Fellow, American Academy of Microbiology Recipient, American Association for Cancer Research–Women in Cancer Research–Charlotte Friend Memorial Lectureship Kyle and Josephine Morrow Chair in Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine BioHouston Women in Science Award Honoree, Hearts of Gold: Honoring Women in Health and Medical Science Gala The Joseph L. Manhattan, Kansas United States Honors & Awards Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science Distinguished Service Professor, Baylor College of Medicine Included in “Women Pioneers in Texas Medicine” (Silverthorne, E. Houston, Texas United States Virology BS from Kansas State University Houston, Texas United States Virology PhD from Baylor College Of Medicine Phone: (713) Education Post-Doctoral Fellowship at Baylor College Of Medicine Houston, Texas United States Addresses BCM-MD Anderson Hall (Office) Houston, Texas United States Co-Leader, Cancer Evolvability Houston, TX US Kyle and Josephine Morrow Chair in Molecular Virology and Microbiology