Dr. Schlesinger
has been investigating
the structure
and replication
of RNA enveloped
viruses, with
particular focus
on the alphavirus,
Sindbis virus.
One objective
has been to
develop this
virus as a vector
for the expression
of heterologous
genes. These
expression vectors
have proven
to be of value
for basic studies
in neurobiology
and they are
being investigated
as possible
vaccines against
dangerous infectious
agents such
as Ebola virus
or HIV. Dr.
Schlesinger's
research included
studies on the
effects of virus
infection on
the host cell,
in particular,
mechanisms by
which the virus
is able to inhibit
cellular protein
synthesis under
conditions in
which the cell
continues to
translate viral
mRNAs. She has
also devised
ways to use
Sindbis virus
replicons in
the diagnosis
of human viruses.
Through a grant
from the Sloan
Foundation,
Dr Schlesinger
has developed
a Web site on
the history
of structural
virology and
she has been
devoting more
time to projects
in this area.
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