Claudia Rückert: Defining the cellular functions of the antiviral mosquito protein Bravo
Title
Defining the cellular functions of the antiviral mosquito protein Bravo
Mentor
Department
Biochemistry and molecular biology
Biosketch
Claudia Rückert, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology at the Â鶹ӳ». She received her bachelor’s degree in biology and master's degree in molecular biosciences from the University of Heidelberg (Germany) and completed her doctoral degree in Virology at the University of Edinburgh (Scotland) in 2014. From 2015-2019 she worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Colorado State University before starting her position at the University.
Her laboratory experience has always focused on virology (first retroviruses, then arthropod-borne viruses) and understanding the molecular interactions of viruses with their host or vector. Since establishing her own lab at the University, her main research interest has focused on virus-vector interactions. Vector-borne pathogens cause disease in humans and animals across the world. Arthropod vectors of human pathogens include, for example, mosquitoes and ticks. These arthropods can acquire viruses or other pathogens through blood-feeding on a vertebrate host and transmit these pathogens to a naïve host in a subsequent bite. With a background in virology, Rückert’s research is targeted specifically at understanding mosquito antiviral responses with the aim of identifying future targets and strategies to control virus transmission.
Project overview
The proposed project for this PREP program will focus on a specific antiviral protein called Bravo that is unique to mosquitoes and has no related genes in other organisms. We currently know that it can inhibit replication of many different viruses in two mosquito species, but we do not know its molecular mechanisms and cellular function. The PREP scholar will work in conjunction with other undergraduate students, graduate students, and Rückert to perform techniques such as nucleic acid extraction, PCR, molecular cloning, and cell culture to determine functions of this protein in mosquitoes and mosquito cells, including in the context of virus infection. The students will develop basic laboratory skills for molecular biology, practice their oral presentation skills through a lab meeting presentation, and get insight into the academic research setting. A suitable candidate will bring enthusiasm and willingness to learn, but molecular research also requires attention to detail and keeping accurate records of experiments and samples.
Pack Research Experience Program information and application