For Members
Richard J. Kuhn ('13)
Department of Biological Sciences
Purdue University
Hockmeyer Hall
240 S. Martin Jischke Drive
West Lafayette, IN 47907-1971
Phone: 765-494-4407
Fax: 765-496-1495
Speaker’s
URL: http://www.bio.purdue.edu/development_disease/directory.php?refID=16
LECTURE
TOPICS AND DESCRIPTIONS
Insights into Alphavirus Assembly and Budding
We have used biochemistry and structural biology to probe
the assembly and egress of alphaviruses including Sindbis and Chikungunya. Recently, we have obtained the crystal
structure of the two envelope glycoproteins and a 7Å cryo-EM map of Sindbis
virus. An in vitro delivery system has been established to study the process
of virus assembly and virion egress.
Role of Membranes in Dengue Virus Infection
RNA viruses alter the intracellular architecture of infected
cells. We have used a combination of
mass spectrometry, electron tomography, and functional biological techniques to
study how dengue virus infects cells and alters the membrane structure to
facilitate virus replication.
Structure and Function in Flaviviruses
Numerous experiments have elaborated the process of
flavivirus assembly and the structure of the virus particle. We are continuing to probe the structure, and
most recently the molecular composition of the particle, to understand how
diversity and dynamics of virions influence pathogenesis.
Preparing Microbiology Students for Diverse Career Trajectories
(For specific information on this lecture, please contact Richard J. Kuhn at kuhnr@purdue.edu)
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Richard Kuhn received his B.S. in Biochemistry from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. He then joined the Department of Microbiology where he did graduate research studying poliovirus replication in the laboratory of Dr. Eckard Wimmer. After receiving his Ph.D., he joined the laboratory of Dr. James Strauss at the California Institute of Technology where he studied the replication of alphaviruses using molecular genetic approaches. He was recruited to Purdue University as an Assistant Professor in the Markey Center for Structural Biology. His research at Purdue has focused on the replication and assembly of the alphaviruses and the flaviviruses. Together with his structural biology colleagues, including Michael Rossmann, he has been involved in many fundamental studies examining the structure and assembly of enveloped viruses, including the first structure of dengue virus. His focus continues to be in virus replication, virion assembly, pathogenesis, and host cell interactions using biochemical, genetic, and structural techniques. In 2007, Dr. Kuhn was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Purdue honors include selection as a University Faculty Scholar from 2004-2009 and the Herbert Newby McCoy Award for Outstanding Research Contributions in 2008. He is an invited member of the U.S. Panel on Viral Diseases of the US-Japan Cooperative Medical Sciences Program (2007-2010). He serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Virology (1996-present), Virology (2002-present), Viruses (2009-present), is involved in numerous advisory boards, and is the author of over 130 publications. His current positions are Professor and Head of the Department of Biological Sciences and the Gerald and Edna Mann Director of the Bindley Bioscience Center.
ASM MEMBERSHIP AFFILIATION
Primary Division T RNA Viruses
Secondary Division X Molecular, Cellular & General Biology of Eukaryotes