Faculty

Glen Nemerow 
Professor
Immunology and Microbial Science
TSRI - 1979

Education 
Ph.D., University of Illinois, 1979

Awards & Activities 
Leukemia Society of America Fellowship, 1981-1983; Leukemia Society of America Special Fellowship, 1983-1985; Pew Scholars Award in the Biomedical Sciences, 1986-1990; Member, Recombinant DNA Advisory Panel (NIH) 2004-2005

Research Focus 
Human adenoviruses are a major cause of acute respiratory, intestinal and ocular infections. However, these viruses have also served as valuable tools with which to investigate fundamental cell and molecular biological processes. Research in the Nemerow lab is focused on gaining a better understanding of adenovirus interactions with host cells. We investigate basic mechanisms involved in virus attachment, internalization, membrane penetration and nuclear localization. A major focus of these studies is the signaling events initiated by cell integrins that promote adenovirus endocytosis. Collaborations with structural, cell biologists, protein chemists at TSRI and Vanderbilt University play a significant role in these investigations. Fundamental knowledge gained from virus-host cell interaction studies is exploited for the design of novel viral vectors with increased capacity to deliver therapeutic genes to specific cell types including endothelial, vascular smooth muscle cells and photoreceptors.

Selected References 
Smith, T.A.G., Idamakanti, N., Rollance, M.L., Marshall-Neff, J., Kim, J., Mulgrew, K., Nemerow, G.R., Kaleko, M. and Stevenson, S.C. Adenovirus serotype5 fiber shaft influences in vivo gene transfer in mice.  Human Gene Therapy.  14:777-787, 2003.

Hsia, D.A., Hauck, C.R., Mitra, S.K., Streblow, D.N., Nelson, J.A., Ilic, D., Li, E., Nemerow, G.R., Leng, J., Cheresh, D.A. and Schlaepfer, D.D. Differential regulation of cell motility and invasion by FAK. J. Cell Biol. 160:753-767, 2003.

Wu, E., Pache, L., Von Seggern, D.J., Mullen, T., Mikyas, Y., Stewart, P.L., and Nemerow, G.R. Flexibility of the adenovirus fiber protein is required for efficient receptor interaction.  J. Virology. 77:7225-7235, 2003.

Wu, E., Pache, L., Mullen, T., Trauger, S.A, Bark, S.B., Siuzdak, G. and Nemerow, G.R.  Membrane cofactor protein (MCP/CD46) is a receptor for subgroup D adenoviruses associated with epidemic keratoconjunctivitis.  J. Virology, 78:3897-3905, 2004.