VIRGINIA YOUNG
Mercer Biology
B.S., Microbiology, Clemson University, Clemson, SC
Ph.D., Microbiology and Immunology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA
Degrees and Advanced Study
Dr Virginia Young, Assistant Professor
Joined Mercer 2009
office WSC 214
phone 478.301.2577
fax 478.301.2067
email young_va@mercer.edu
Public Health Microbiology
Virology
BIO 211 Introductory Biology I
BIO 212 Introductory Biology II
BIO 303 Microbiology
BIO 482 Immunology
Courses Taught
Virology
Specialties
Viral infections of the central nervous system (CNS) can have severe consequences, including progressive neurodegeneration, encephalitis, and meningitis. However, the manner by which neurotropic viruses, such as measles virus (MV), trigger or cause CNS disease is poorly understood. Interestingly, it appears that for many viruses such as Herpes simplex virus, polio virus, and MV the mechanism of viral spread in neurons is distinct from that in other cells in the periphery. Furthermore, this specialized mode of viral spread is associated with no neuronal loss. Thus, it appears that these otherwise lytic viruses have mechanisms to exist in a quiescent, non-lytic state within neurons, while nevertheless continuing to spread within the CNS. Therefore, Dr. Young’s research goals are to understand these two processes by determining i) how neurotropic viruses, such as MV, are transported within an infected neuron to the presynaptic membrane; and ii) how the interactions of viral and cellular proteins at the neuronal synapse may facilitate downstream pro-survival outcomes.
Research Interests
Young VA, Rall GF. (2009) Making it to the synapse: measles virus spread in and among neurons. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 330:3-30.
Dillon PJ, Wansley EK, Young VA, Alexander-Mille MA, Parks GD. (2006) Exchanges of P/V genes between two noncytopathic SV5 variants results in a recombinant virus that kills cells through death pathways that are sensitive to caspase inhibitors. J. Gen. Virol. 87:3643-3648.
Young VA, Dillon PJ, Parks GD. (2006) Variants of the Paramyxovirus Simian virus 5 with accelerated or delayed viral gene expression activate proinflammatory cytokine synthesis. Virology 350:90-102.
Young VA, Parks GD. (2003) Simian virus 5 is a poor inducer of chemokine secretion from human lung epithelial cells: identification of viral mutants that activate interleukin-8 secretion by distinct mechanisms. Journal of Virology. 77:7124-7130.
Parks GD, Young VA, Koumenis C, Wansley EK, Layer JL, Cooke KM. (2002) Controlled cell killing by a recombinant nonsegmented negative strand RNA virus. Virology 193:203.
Publications
