April 18, 2019


04:00 PM - 08:00 PM
CBB-102

The Montana Tech Public Lecture Series presents Matt Taylor.

Matt Taylor will present Closing the gate: Restrictions to neuroinvasive HSV-1 spread, April 18 at 4 p.m. in CBB-102.

Dr. Matthew Taylor has 23 years of experience in both academic and industrial research laboratories. He received his undergraduate degree in Biochemistry and Microbiology from the University of Washington before going on to earn his Ph.D. degree in Microbiology and Immunology at Stanford University. He then pursued a Post-Doctoral fellowship at Princeton University in the laboratory of Dr. Lynn Enquist. In 2013, Dr. Taylor became an Assistant Professor at Montana State University in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology.

Research Description: The Taylor Lab is interested in the intercellular spread of neuroinvasive viruses and how spread impacts viral evolution and pathogenesis. Neuroinvasive viruses have the capacity to infect the cells of the nervous system, transmitting viral particles (virions) between neurons. Using the connections between neurons, the infection invades the central nervous system resulting in severe disease and death. The main focus is the neuroinvasive alphaherpes viruses which include the human pathogen Herpes Simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and the porcine pathogen Pseudorabies virus (PRV). Our research has centered on the host and viral factors that restrict or otherwise regulate the spread of infection between neurons. Through this work, we will identify the most impactful mechanisms to regulate viral disease in the nervous system.

All lectures are free and open to the public. 

Click on the link to see the full spring 2019 public lecture series speakers and schedule.