Martin Ramirez

Herpes simplex viruses (HSV) are unique among the enveloped viruses as they require four (gB, gD, gH, gL) out of at least a dozen glycoproteins for cell entry. It has been demonstrated through the use of pseudotyped vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) that the aforementioned glycoproteins are necessary and sufficient membrane fusion. Using single particle tracking (SPT) and total internal reflection microscopy in conjunction with the pseudo type VSV we will study the intermediate mechanisms of viral entry and the specific roles of said glycoproteins. SPT can also be coupled with microfluidics allowing us to study individual fusion triggers. Pseudotyped VSV is a powerful tool that allows us to study one or many of the glycoproteins of HSV as a safer alternative to a complete HSV virion.