Goals
Our goal is to discover critical genome-wide mechanisms that control cellular functions and gene expression programs in various context, from host-pathogen interactions of epithelial cells, during oncogenic viral infections and cancer. By defining the critical transcription factors, epigenetic regulators and signaling pathways, we can identify novel targets for therapies.
Questions:
1. What key host-pathogen interactions contribute to immune evasion during viral infections?
2. What mechanisms contribute to reprogramming of infected cells following viral infections?
3. What molecular events drive cells towards future infectious disease or cancer development?
4. How is cell fate maintained at the genome-wide level by epigenetics and signaling pathways?
Approach
We apply state-of-the-art genomics, imaging, functional genetics and biochemical approaches. Our approach is to (i) perform an unbiased genome-wide study first in order to (ii) identify key novel regulators of the process, (iii) which are then explored by functional and mechanistic genome-wide studies leading to functional models.
Example of our main funding sources for projects
1.R01 (R01DE028331) Immune evasion mechanisms by a tumor herpesvirus in the oral cavity
2.PhD project (F30 DE030666 funding): Forkhead factor regulation in oral viral infection
3. NIH/NIDCR (R03DE028029) Genomic characterization of Forkhead factors in oral infection
The Papp laboratory has been has been consistently funded by NIH grants (NIDCR / NICHD) since 2016. Funding from UFCD, UFH Cancer Center, UF Research Opportunity Seed grant.
Our collaborative research is funded by American Cancer Society and active NIH grants (NIAID, NIDCR).
Examples of projects with main funding sources in the Papp lab:
Project 1.
Dissecting host-pathogen interactions during oncogenic viral infections
Project 2.
Studying the genome-wide reprogramming role of host and viral factors during infection
Project 3.
Dissecting host factors in oncogenic viral infections and cancer