Grants per year
Personal profile
Research Interests
Research in the Longnecker laboratory focuses on herpes simplex virus (HSV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). These viruses typically cause self-limiting disease within the human population but both can be associated with serious complications. EBV is associated with variety of hematopoietic cancers such as African Burkitt lymphoma, Hodgkin Lymphoma and adult T-cell leukemia. EBV-associated lymphoproliferative disease occurs in individuals with congenital or acquired cellular immune deficiencies. The two notable epithelial diseases associated with EBV infection are nasopharyngeal cancer and oral hairy leukoplakia. Similar to EBV, HSV latent infections are very common in humans. HSV typically does not cause severe disease but is associated with localized mucocutaneous lesions, but in some cases can cause meningitis and encephalitis. The Longnecker laboratory focuses on several aspects of EBV and HSV replication and pathogenesis. First, the molecular basis EBV transformation and how it relates to cancer is being investigated. The laboratory is currently screening selective inhibitors that may be beneficial in EBV-associated cancers such as Hodgkin lymphoma, Burkitt lymphoma and proliferative disorders that occur in HIV/AIDS and transplant patients. Second, the laboratory is investigating herpesvirus latency in the human host and pathogenesis associated with infections in humans. In this regard, the laboratory is developing animal models for EBV and HSV infections. Finally, the laboratory is investigating the function of herpesvirus encoded proteins and the cellular receptors that are important for infection both using in vivo culture models as well as animal models. Ultimately, studies by the Longnecker laboratory may provide insight for the development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of herpesvirus infections in humans and better understanding of the herpesvirus life cycle in the human host.
Training Experience
1988 | Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Chicago |
1992 | Postdoctoral Fellowship, Harvard University |
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Virology, PhD, The University of Chicago
… → 1987
Research interests keywords
- Cancer Biology
- Signal Transduction
- Systems Biology
- Viral Oncology
- Viral Pathogenesis
- Virology
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Receptor Usage and Regulation of the Immune Response in HSV Infection
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
8/16/23 → 7/31/25
Project: Research project
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Mechanism of Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Induced Membrane Fusion
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
12/1/19 → 11/30/24
Project: Research project
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Role of Host Cell Factors in Newborn Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Encephalitis
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
1/1/19 → 3/31/24
Project: Research project
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High Collection-volume Nasal Swab and Patient App for Self-testing
Grayson, M. A., Alshurafa, N., Ameer, G. A., Jennings, L. J., Longnecker, R. M. & O'Leary, K. J.
National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance, Inc., National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering
6/3/20 → 6/16/20
Project: Research project
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Inhibitors of the Epstgein-Barr Entry Machinery
Stanford University, National Cancer Institute
6/1/16 → 5/31/17
Project: Research project
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Multiple Sites on Glycoprotein H (gH) Functionally Interact with the gB Fusion Protein to Promote Fusion during Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Entry
Fan, Q., Hippler, D. P., Yang, Y., Longnecker, R. & Connolly, S. A., Jan 2023, In: mBio. 14, 1Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Virology under the Microscope-a Call for Rational Discourse
Goodrum, F., Lowen, A. C., Lakdawala, S., Alwine, J., Casadevall, A., Imperiale, M. J., Atwood, W., Avgousti, D., Baines, J., Banfield, B., Banks, L., Bhaduri-McIntosh, S., Bhattacharya, D., Blanco-Melo, D., Bloom, D., Boon, A., Boulant, S., Brandt, C., Broadbent, A., Brooke, C., & 136 others , Jan 2023, In: mBio. 14, 1Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open Access -
Virology under the Microscope-a Call for Rational Discourse
Goodrum, F., Lowen, A. C., Lakdawala, S., Alwine, J., Casadevall, A., Imperiale, M. J., Atwood, W., Avgousti, D., Baines, J., Banfield, B., Banks, L., Bhaduri-McIntosh, S., Bhattacharya, D., Blanco-Melo, D., Bloom, D., Boon, A., Boulant, S., Brandt, C., Broadbent, A., Brooke, C., & 136 others , Apr 20 2023, In: mSphere. 8, 2, p. e0003423Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Virology under the Microscope—a Call for Rational Discourse
Goodrum, F., Lowen, A. C., Lakdawala, S., Alwine, J., Casadevall, A., Imperiale, M. J., Atwood, W., Avgousti, D., Baines, J., Banfield, B., Banks, L., Bhaduri-McIntosh, S., Bhattacharya, D., Blanco-Melo, D., Bloom, D., Boon, A., Boulant, S., Brandt, C., Broadbent, A., Brooke, C., & 136 others , Feb 2023, In: Journal of virology. 97, 2Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open Access2 Scopus citations -
Herpes Simplex Virus-2 Variation Contributes to Neurovirulence During Neonatal Infection
Hayes, C. K., Villota, C. K., Mcenany, F. B., Cerón, S., Awasthi, S., Szpara, M. L., Friedman, H. M., Leib, D. A., Longnecker, R., Weitzman, M. D. & Akhtar, L. N., Nov 1 2022, In: Journal of Infectious Diseases. 226, 9, p. 1499-1509 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
1 Scopus citations
Datasets
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CCDC 1486030: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination
Zhao, M. (Creator), Onakpa, M. M. (Creator), Santarsiero, B. D. (Creator), Huang, X. (Creator), Zhang, X. (Creator), Chen, J. (Creator), Cheng, J. (Creator), Longnecker, R. M. (Creator) & Che, C. (Creator), Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre, 2016
DOI: 10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc1lwbg8, http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc1lwbg8&sid=DataCite
Dataset
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1KG0 : Structure of the Epstein-Barr Virus gp42 Protein Bound to the MHC class II Receptor HLA-DR1
Jardetzky, T. S. (Contributor), Longnecker, R. M. (Contributor), Mullen, M. M. (Contributor) & Haan, K. M. (Contributor), RCSB-PDB, 2002
DOI: 10.2210/pdb1kg0/pdb, https://www.rcsb.org/structure/1KG0
Dataset
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CCDC 1486031: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination
Zhao, M. (Creator), Onakpa, M. M. (Creator), Santarsiero, B. D. (Creator), Huang, X. (Creator), Zhang, X. (Creator), Chen, J. (Creator), Cheng, J. (Creator), Longnecker, R. M. (Creator) & Che, C. (Creator), Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre, 2016
DOI: 10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc1lwbh9, http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc1lwbh9&sid=DataCite
Dataset