In addition to his role as assistant vice chancellor for N.C. State at the N.C. Research Campus, Dr. Steven A. Lommel is a researcher in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Plant Pathology. His research focuses on Red clover necrotic mosaic virus (RCNMV), a small RNA plant virus, as a model system to study gene regulation and assembly based on RNA structural transitions and using the virus capsid as a nano-cargo delivery vehicle. The virus temporally regulates gene expression through the dynamic formation and interaction of RNA structures. RCNMV further regulates other aspects of its life cycle, including virion assembly by the various RNA structural transitions. This virus, because of its size, uniform rigid structure and load capacity, is being converted into a nanoparticle therapeutic delivery vessel. RCNMV is a soil-borne pathogen, is structurally robust and able to maintain integrity in a range of environmental conditions, including those found in a mammalian circulatory system.
Publications
Franzen S. and Lommel S.A. 2009. Targeting cancer with 'smart bombs': equipping plant virus nanoparticles for a 'seek and destroy' mission. Nanomed. 4: 575–588.
Powers J.G., Sit T.L., Heinsohn C., George C.G., Kim K.H. and Lommel S.A. 2008. The RCNMV RNA-2 encoded movement protein is a second suppressor of RNA silencing. Virology. 381: 277–286.
Powers J.G., Sit T.L., Qu F., Morris T.J., Kim K.H. and Lommel S.A. 2008. A versatile assay for the identification of RNA silencing suppressors based on complementation of viral movement. Molecular Plant Microbe Interactions. 21: 879–890.
Sherman M.B., Guenther R.H., Tama F., Sit T.L., Brooks C.L., Mikhailov A.M., Orlova E.V., Baker T.S. and Lommel S.A. 2006. Removal of divalent cations induces structural transitions in Red clover necrotic mosaic virus revealing a potential mechanism for RNA release. Journal of Virology. 80: 10395–10406.
Sit T.L., Vaewhongs A.A. and Lommel S.A. 1998. RNA-mediated trans-activation of transcription from a viral RNA. Science. 281: 829–832.
