• Calendar
• A-Z Index

Robert Means

 

Immunology; Microbiology

Assistant Professor of Pathology

Education

B.S. Rochester Institute of Technology 1990
Ph.D. Harvard Medical School 1999

Research Interests

Through co-evolution with their hosts, viruses have acquired exquisite mechanisms for manipulating the anti-viral immune responses. Our lab is interested in detailing these viral coping mechanisms and examining their importance to pathogenicity. The major pathogens that we study are the gamma-herpesviruses, including Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). This virus is a causal agent of the most common AIDS-associated cancers in the Western world, as well as being a leading cause of cancer deaths in Africa. We are in the process of characterizing several gene products of KSHV that are able to modulate and block the host immune response. Additionally, we are utilizing several animal models to characterize the host immune responses being made against the virus. These experiments have the promise of not only leading to a better understanding of what host responses are important in controlling viral infections, leading to improved prevention strategies, but also to an understanding of the molecular mechanics of the host:pathogen response.

Recent Publications

• Means, R.E. (2004). Characterization of the Herpesvirus saimiri Orf51 protein. Virology 326(1):67-78.
• Lee, S.H., Jung, J.U., and Means, R.E. (2003). ‘Complementing’ viral infection: mechanisms for evading innate immunity. Trends Microbiol. 11:449-52.

Contact

E-mail
robert.means@yale.edu