Pete Gillis

E-mail: gill0221@umn.edu

Thesis Advisor: Steve Rice

Year entered: 2004

Degrees received:
B.S., Microbiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

Honors and Awards:

• MICaB travel award recipient, spring semester 2008
• Student member of the IMV advisory committee (2008-2009)

Thesis research:
My research focuses on better understanding the function/functions of ICP27 during HSV-1 infection. Using viral infection and a unique expression system we have developed we aim to determine the direct effects of ICP27 expression on host cell and viral processes. Currently, I am exploring the effects of ICP27 expression on host cell stress associated protein kinase signaling pathways. I am interested in characterizing the mechanism behind ICP27 mediated activation of p38 and JNK signaling. Furthermore, I hope to characterize the downstream effects of this signaling on normal host cell function by looking at message stability, splicing, and translation.

Publications:

• Gillis, P., L. Okagaki, and S. Rice. 2009. Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 ICP27 induces p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling and apoptosis in HeLa cells. J. Virol. 83:1767-1777.