Section: Research

Robert Finberg, M.D.

Academic Role: Professor

Faculty Appointment(s) In:
   Infectious Diseases and Immunology
   Medicine
   Molecular Genetics and Microbiology

Other Affiliation(s):
   Cancer Center
   Center for AIDS Research
   Interdisciplinary Graduate Program
   Program in Immunology and Virology

Host-microbial interactions 

Dr. Finberg’s laboratory works on the relationships between host cell surface proteins and viruses and bacteria, and the basis of cellular activation mediated by cell surface proteins.

1. Virus receptor proteins (and viral pathogenesis):
       Because of their well-defined genetics and spacious capsid, adenoviruses can be used to inject new genetic material into stem cells or, potentially, into tumor cells. The laboratory has defined the virus receptor protein for most adenoviruses, as well as the Coxsackie B group viruses (1,2). The use of several transgenic CAR expressing mouse strains are being studied and a CAR knock-out being created.
2. Viral genes and the host: induction of virus specific immune responses:
       The laboratory has pioneered in defining a major role for "pattern recognition proteins" CD 14 and Toll-like receptors in viral pathogenesis andimmunity (3,4).
3. Host cell surface proteins and the basis of cellular activation events:
      The laboratory has studied the mechanism of signal transduction by non-membrane spanning glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchored, cell surface proteins. GPI anchored cell surface proteins are important signal transducing proteins. Recent investigations have led to the definition of the cell surface interactions between bacterial lipopolysaccharide (lps) that results in triggering the cytokine release that leads to septic shock. Experiments have focused on the definition of the role of CD14 and the Toll like receptor (TLR) proteins and their interactions in virus and bacterial induced signal transduction events (5).

Office: Research 228
Phone: 508-856-1886
Fax: 508-856-6176
E-mail: Robert.Finberg@umassmed.edu
Keywords: Immunology, Clinical Research, Infectious Disease

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