Department of Immunology and Microbiology

Faculty

Glen Nemerow, PhD

Professor Emeritus
Department of Immunology and Microbiology
California Campus

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.

Education

Ph.D. (Microbiology and Immunology), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1979
B.S. (Biology), Syracuse University, 1973

Professional Experience

2012-2017 Professor, Immunology and Microbial Science (IMS), Scripps Research
1979-1983 Postdoctoral Fellow, Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation

Awards & Professional 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

Selected References

All Publications

Nguyen, E.K., Nemerow, G.R., Smith, J.G. Direct evidence from single-cell analysis that human alpha-defensins block adenovirus uncoating to neutralize infection. J. Virol. 84(8):4041-9, 2010.
_{PubMed Central Free Access - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2849482}

Reddy V.S., Natchiar S.K., Gritton L., Mullen T.M., Stewart P.L., Nemerow G.R. Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of human adenovirus. Virology 402(1), 209-14, 2010.
_{PubMed Central Free Access - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2871957/?tool=pubmed}

Smith J.G., Silvestry M., Lindert S., Lu W., Nemerow G.R., Stewart P.L. Insight into the mechanisms of adenovirus capsid disassembly from studies of defensin neutralization. PLoS Pathog. 6(6):e1000959, 2010.
_{PubMed Central Free Access - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2891831}

Reddy V.S., Natchiar S.K., Stewart P.L., Nemerow G.R. Crystal structure of human adenovirus at 3.5 Å resolution. Science 329(5995):1071-5, 2010.
_{PubMed Central Free Access - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2929978/?tool=pubmed}

Smith J.G., Wiethoff, C.M., Stewart, P.L. and Nemerow, G.R. Adenovirus: In Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology. (Johnson, J.E., Ed.) Springer Verlag Kg. Volume 2100, 195-224, 2010.
_{PubMed Central Free Access - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3093298/?tool=pubmed}

Moyer C.L, Wiethoff C.M., Maier O., Smith J.G., Nemerow G.R. Functional Genetic and Biophysical Analyses of Membrane Disruption by Human Adenovirus. J. Virol. Mar;85(6):2631-41, 2011.
_{PubMed - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21209115}