Crystal Boudreaux, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Microbiology Department of Biomedical Sciences
Office: A326 Phone: 304.793.6822
BS, Biological Sciences with a minor in Chemistry, Nicholls State University
Ph.D., Viral Immunology,MississippiState University
Postdoctoral Training, Rotavirus Molecular Biology, Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute
The Boudreaux laboratory is interested in cellular host factors that play a role in rotavirus replication. Rotaviruses remain a leading cause of childhood diarrheal death worldwide. In the state of West Virginia, enteric illnesses are the second most common type of disease outbreak. Recent surveillance showed half the Southern Regional average of rotavirus infections were recorded in West Virginia. Various attributions because of rural populated areas in the state may lead to increased outbreaks.
Viruses subvert cellular factors and signaling pathways to take command of the cellular environment for effective replication. All viruses do not have the same approach to subvert cellular factors, however, most viruses encode proteins that redirect cellular protein recruitment. Rotaviruses are triple layered, non-enveloped, segmented, double-stranded RNA viruses with a life cycle that occurs entirely in the cytoplasm of infected cells. Towards identifying cellular candidate proteins that may be involved in rotavirus replication, an RNA interference (RNAi) screen was performed using a library of lentiviral-encoded short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) focusing solely on cellular kinases. Our focus is to elucidate mechanisms by which these cellular kinases function to promote rotavirus infection. This work is important for developing new antiviral treatments.
Michelle Vanoy-Warner, Laboratory Technician
Ongoing Research Support
Steger CL, Boudreaux CE, LaConte LE, Pease JB, McDonald SM. Group A rotavirus VP1 polymerase and VP2 core shell proteins: intergenotypic sequence variation and in vitro functional compatibility. J Virol 2019. 93 (2). PMID: 30355692.
Steger CL, Boudreaux CE, Cohen C, McDonald SM. Rotavirus core shell protein contact sites on the polymerase required for robust in vitro dsRNA synthesis. J Virol 2019. 93 (20). PMID: 31341048
Cho M.J., Ellebrecht C.T., Hammers C.M., Mukherjee E.M., Sapparapu G., Boudreaux C.E., McDonald S.M., Crowe Jr J.E., Payne A.S. 2016. Determinants of VH1-46 cross-reactivity to pemphigus vulgaris autoantigen desmoglein 3 and rotavirus antigen VP6. Journal of Immunology. 197 (4):1065-73.
Boudreaux C.E., Kelly D.F., McDonald S.M. (2015). Electron microscopic analysis of rotavirus assembly-replication intermediates. Virology. 477:32-41.
Boudreaux C.E.*, Vile D.C.*, Gilmore B.L., Tanner J.R., Kelly D.F., McDonald S.M. (2013). Rotavirus core shell subdomains involved in polymerase encapsidation into virus-like particles. J. Gen. Virol. 94(Pt 8):1818-26.
Gilmore B.L., McKell A.O., Boudreaux C.E., Dukes M.J., McDonald S.M., Kelly D.F. (2013). Molecular surveillance of viral processes using silicon nitride membranes. Micromachines. 4(1), 90-102.
Chumbley L.B., Boudreaux C.E., Coats K.S. (2013). Aberrant placental immune parameters in the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)-infected cat suggest virus-induced changes in T cell function. Virol. Journal.10:238.
Boudreaux C.E., Chumbley L.B., Scott V.L., Wise D.A., Coats K.S. (2012). Imbalance of placental regulatory T cell and Th17 cell population dynamics in the FIV-infected pregnant cat. Virol. Journal. 9:88.
Scott V.L., Boudreaux C.E., Lockett N.N., Clay B.T., Coats K.S. (2011). Cytokine dysregulation in early- and late-term placentas from feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)-infected cats. Am. J. Reprod. Immunol. 65:480-491.
Lockett N.N., Scott V.L., Boudreaux C.E., Clay B.T., Pruett S.B., Ryan P.L., Coats, K.S. (2010). Expression of Regulatory T cell (Treg) Activation Markers in Endometrial Tissues from Early and Late Pregnancy in the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)-Infected Cat. Placenta. 31(9): 796-802.
Coats, K.S., Boudreaux, C.E., Clay, B.T., Lockett, N.N., and Scott, V.L. (2010). Placental immunopathology in the FIV-infected cat: a role for inflammation in compromised pregnancy? Vet. Immunol. Immunopathol. 134(1-2):39-47.
Boudreaux C.E., Lockett N.N., Chemerys D.N., Clay B.T., Scott V.L., Willeford B., Brown T., Coats K.S. (2009). Maternal hematological and virological characteristics during early feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection of cats as predictors of fetal infection and reproductive outcome at early gestation. Vet. Immunol. Immunopathol. 131:290-297.