Recipients

Herpes viruses are very common among humans. They induce cold sores, genital herpes, mononucleosis, chickenpox, shingles and various other serious diseases. When an individual becomes infected with this virus their tegument proteins (one of the outer layers of the virus) are known to play a pivotal role in the infection. However, just how those tegument proteins play such a role is poorly understood. What we do know is that a particular tegument protein, known as VP22, can spread very efficiently between cells and when fused to other protein segments, can impart its unique abilities. Further characterizing the functional and structural properties of VP22 could lead to a much more efficient way of producing better vaccines against the herpes virus and other pathogens in general.

Labiuk’s research aligns well with Saskatchewan’s Health Research Strategy by focusing on public health, including infectious diseases.

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