Research News
NIH awards Fellowship to Grad Student in Shukla Lab
Perry M. Scanlan, BS, a graduate student in Dr. Deepak Shukla’s Ocular Virology Laboratory, has been awarded an NIH predoctoral fellowship. Mr. Scanlan joined Dr. Shukla’s lab through the graduate program of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology.
Perry Scanlan (front) and Dr. Deepak Shukla (back) pause for a photo in the Ocular Virology Laboratory.
Mr. Scanlan’s research focuses on the molecular mechanism of herpes simplex virus entry and spread. The NIH Predoctoral Fellowship for Students with Disabilities is funded through the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and is intended to encourage students with disabilities to pursue graduate degrees in the sciences. Mr. Scanlan is diagnosed with Grant-Little’s disease, a form of cerebral palsy, that slightly affects his lower limbs.
“This fellowship will provide an excellent environment to learn and grow as a researcher, and will greatly assist with the transition from my predoctoral program to a postdoctoral position,” said Mr. Scanlan.
“It is an honor and a privilege to be given this fellowship, especially since I represent those who take nothing for granted in their daily lives,” he continued. “With this training opportunity, I can show the scientific community how much individuals with disabilities can contribute to basic science research.”
Mr. Scanlan has a BS in Medical Microbiology and Immunology and Clinical Laboratory Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He also is a certified clinical laboratory scientist MT(ASCP).
When Dr. Shukla was establishing his lab at UIC in 2002, he welcomed Mr. Scanlan as a predoctoral trainee in his lab. “What impressed me most about Perry is that he is a very intelligent young man who does not hesitate to ask good and relevant questions,” remarked Dr. Shukla.
Dr. Shukla’s research generally focuses on understanding the molecular mechanism of virus entry into cells. More specifically, the goal of the Shukla lab is to understand how α-herpesviruses, such as human herpes simplex viruses (HSV-1 and HSV-2), enter into susceptible cells, including the cells of human eye, to cause infections. Ocular herpes can produce a painful sore on the eyelid or surface of the eye and cause inflammation of the cornea. The less severe forms of ocular herpes include blepharitis, conjunctivitis, and epithelial keratitis. The more severe form of ocular herpes is stromal keratitis, which causes scarring of the cornea, which can lead to loss of vision and blindness.
“Experimental science is about asking the right questions and looking for the right answers,” Dr. Shukla continued. “Perry’s work – both published and unpublished – provides new insight into the molecular basis of herpes virus invasion, which is likely to translate into novel therapies against this blinding disease.”
The entry of HSV into cells begins with an initial binding of viral glycoprotein spikes to cell surface molecules. These viral components find receptors on the surface of the cell allowing viral entry. There are different glycoproteins as well as different receptors, generating a slew of possible binding combinations for virus entry. The Shukla lab uses genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, and cell biology to identify these viral and cellular mediators of entry to decipher their precise roles in the entry process.
Mr. Scanlan’s research project focuses on one of the viral glycoproteins, gH. “We have generated novel evidence to suggest that gH binds to an as yet undiscovered cellular co-receptor,” he explains. The function of gH is not known, however it is required for viral entry. This project is attempting to assess the role of gH in this mechanism.
This research has already made some breakthroughs by demonstrating that gH expression could occur without gL (glycoprotein gL is essential for viral entry and is thought to assist in gH surface expression). Interestingly, cells expressing gH partially resist viral invasion. We believe this mechanism is by sequestering an unknown cellular receptor. Ongoing research will attempt to identify this receptor. If a gH receptor is identified, this would provide another target for preventing HSV entry and spread.
Mr. Scanlan credited the mentoring support he has received from Dr. Shukla as critical to his successful fellowship application, describing Dr. Shukla as an exceptional mentor who has developed a strong and productive environment for research in his laboratory. He also notes how generous Dr. Shukla is in his commitment to training, especially given the pressures on him as a junior member of the faculty to launch his own independent research career.
“Because of the high quality of Dr. Shukla’s research, and the support I have had from him, I was able to successfully compete for this prestigious fellowship – even though many fellowships are awarded to students of mentors who are senior faculty,” Mr. Scanlan said.
Mr. Scanlan has had an article published in the journal Virology and has presented his research at national meetings, including ARVO and the International Herpesvirus workshop. He counts himself extremely fortunate to be in a position to pursue his research career goals. “The fellowship support the NIH has given me will allow me to continue with some of the best predoctoral training possible,” he concludes.
