Raymond P. Roos, M.D.

Picornaviral Genes and Gene Products Critical in Determining Their Biological Properties (Neurovirulence, Persistence, Demyelinating Activity) and Mechanisms of Action, Pathogenesis of Unconventional Viral Infections of the Central Nervous System

Research Summary

My main interests are central nervous system (CNS) viral infections and neurodegenerative diseases. A basic goal of my studies is to use molecular techniques to better understand the pathogenesis of these diseases. We have the following main research directions:

1. Investigate disease induced by picornaviruses (poliovirus and Theiler’s virus) in order to identify molecular determinants for neurovirulence, virus persistence and demyelination, and the mechanisms involved. The identification of virus genes important in these phenotypes may not only clarify the pathogenesis of the virus diseases but also lead to an understanding of genes important in the normal CNS function and in human CNS disease states (such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple sclerosis).

2. Delineate genes and gene products critical to the death and survival of neurons, especially related to neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease.

Selected Papers

Pallansch MA and Roos RP. (2001). Enteroviruses: Polioviruses, Coxsackieviruses, Echoviruses, and Newer Enteroviruses. Fields’ Virology. (Ed. Knipe, D.N. and Howley, P.M.) 4th Edition, Vol. II pp. 725-776.

Pilipenko E, Viktorova E, Guest S, Agol V and Roos RP. (2001). Cell-specific Proteins Regulate Viral RNA Translation and Virus-induced Disease. European Molecular Biology Organization Journal 20 (23): 6899-6908.

Roos RP. (2002). Pathogenesis of Theiler’s Murine Encephalomyelitis Virus-Induced Disease. In: Molecular Biology of Picornaviruses. (Ed. Semler, B.L. and Wimmer, E.) ASM Press, Washington, DC, pp. 427-435.

Lin X, Ma X, Rodriguez M, Feng X, Zoecklein L, Fu YX and Roos RP. (2003). Membrane lymphotoxin is required for resistance to Theiler's virus infection and demyelination. International Immunology 15 (8):955-962.

Ghadge GD, Slusher BS, Bodner A, Dal Canto M, Wozniak K, Thomas A, Rojas C, Tsukamoto T, Majer P, Miller RJ, Monti AL and Roos RP. (2003). Glutamate carboxypeptidase II inhibition protects motor neurons from death in familial ALS (FALS) models. PNAS. 100:9554-9559.

Mastrianni JA, Roos RP.  (2003). Wrinkles and folds of the prion protein. Neurology. 61(9):1168-9. No abstract available.

Lin X, Ma X, Rodriguez M, Roos RP. (2004). CD4+ T cells are important for clearance of DA strain of TMEV from the central nervous system of SJL/J mice. Int Immunol. 16(9):1237-40. Epub 2004 Jul 19.

Guest S, Pilipenko E, Sharma K, Chumakov K, Roos RP. (2004). Molecular mechanisms of attenuation of the Sabin strain of poliovirus type 3. J Virol. 78(20):11097-107.