Our lab focuses on the biology of Autographica californica M Nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV), a type of baculovirus. It's a large (about 200 nm long, 35 nm wide) rod shaped, enveloped virus with a genome of approximately 135 kilobase pairs of double stranded DNA. It infects certain members of the butterfly and moth family (Lepidoptera) at the larval stage of development (i.e., caterpillars). Within a matter of several days, the host/victim is reduced to a puddle of virus-laden slime.
The Volkman lab can be divided into two sections: one part of the lab is interested in the interactions between AcMNPV and the insect host; the other half of the lab (where I am involved) focuses on the cellular interactions of the virus, trying to figure out what makes it tick. My project has centered on the regulation of a virally-encoded cysteine protease, V-CATH, which is involved in the melting process.
I now have my curriculum vitae online.
Click here to see how to make high titer budded virus.