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Full-Text Articles in Virology
Insights To Protein Pathogenicity From The Lens Of Protein Evolution, Janelle Nunez-Castilla
Insights To Protein Pathogenicity From The Lens Of Protein Evolution, Janelle Nunez-Castilla
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
As protein sequences evolve, differences in selective constraints may lead to outcomes ranging from sequence conservation to structural and functional divergence. Evolutionary protein family analysis can illuminate which protein regions are likely to diverge or remain conserved in sequence, structure, and function. Moreover, nonsynonymous mutations in pathogens may result in the emergence of protein regions that affect the behavior of pathogenic proteins within a host and host response. I aimed to gain insight on pathogenic proteins from cancer and viruses using an evolutionary perspective. First, I examined p53, a conformationally flexible, multifunctional protein mutated in ~50% of human cancers. Multifunctional …
Characterization Of The Role Of The Replicase And Quasispecies Diversity In Flaviviral Evolution And Host Adaptation, Haley Caldwell
Characterization Of The Role Of The Replicase And Quasispecies Diversity In Flaviviral Evolution And Host Adaptation, Haley Caldwell
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
Flaviviruses include several emerging and re-emerging arboviruses that cause millions of infections each year. Although relatively well-studied, much remains unknown regarding the mechanisms and means by which these viruses adapt to different hosts and rapidly alternate between hosts. Different aspects of flaviviral biology impact host switching, viral fitness, and the generation of viral diversity during genome replication by the NS3 and NS5 proteins. Together these factors may impact host plasticity.