Faculty

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Matthew D. Weitzman, Ph.D.

Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

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Department: Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

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1f Graduate Group Affiliations 8

Immunology
Cell and Molecular Biology

46 Contact information
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4050 Colket Translational Research Building
42 The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute
39 3501 Civic Center Blvd
Philadelphia, PA 19104

2e Office: 267-425-2068
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Email:
weitzmanm@email.chop.edu

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18 Publications
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26 Search PubMed for articles c

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13 Education:
21 a B.Sc. 27 (Honours degree in Genetics) c
30 University of Leeds, UK, 1987.
21 b Ph.D. 1f (Molecular Virology) c
a7 Oxford Polytechnic and the Institute of Virology and Environmental Microbiology of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), Oxford, UK, 1991.
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Links
a4 Search PubMed for articles
82 CCMT website
72 CHOP website
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5 3 3 92 Permanent link
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b6 > Perelman School of Medicine > Faculty > Details a

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Description of Research Expertise

2d Research Interests:
287 Our lab aims to understand cellular host responses to virus infection, and the environment encountered and manipulated by viruses. We study multiple viruses in an integrated experimental approach that combines biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics and cell biology. We have chosen viral models that provide tractable systems to investigate the dynamic interplay between viral genetic material and host defense strategies. The pathways illuminated are key to fighting diseases of both viral infection and genome instability, and our studies have significant implications for the development of efficient viral vectors for gene therapy.
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28 Description of Research:
69f Viruses try to hijack cellular machinery to aid their own replication, but the host cell often responds with defense systems that can create obstacles for the virus. Watching these battles unfold has contributed significantly to our understanding of fundamental cellular mechanisms and has established viruses as powerful model systems to study cell biology. We have a particular interest in the interactions between viruses and the DNA repair pathways of the host cell. The work in my lab addresses the fundamental question of how the human genome maintains integrity in the face of viral genetic assault. Viral genomes pose a direct threat to the host genome. During infection a battle ensues in which both host and viral genomes must each be protected to maintain their genetic integrity. We study the dynamic interactions between viruses and host cells when their genomes are in conflict. My lab discovered that the cellular apparatus that resolves DNA damage also acts as a defense against viral assault. The sophisticated surveillance network for sensing and repairing DNA prevents an array of human diseases. When compromised it results in genomic instability that ultimately leads to cancer. We are studying how the cellular damage sensing machinery as an intrinsic defense to virus infection, and ways in which viruses mount a counterattack by dismantling the cellular DNA repair machinery or even exploiting it to aid their own replication. In addition to understanding virus-host interactions, studying DNA repair together with the natural process of virus infection provides a platform for interrogating cellular pathways involved in recognition and processing of DNA damage.
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2ea We study Adenovirus (Ad), Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV-1), and Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV). These viruses each have different types of DNA genomes and have developed distinct ways of manipulating host defenses. Unraveling the complex host cell response to invading viral genomes has broad implications for fighting diseases of both viral infection and genome instability. Our studies on repair and silencing of viral genomes have significant implications for the development of efficient viral vectors for gene therapy. Viral complexes that manipulate host pathways reveal novel ways in which protein modifications regulate diverse processes. The conflicts between virus and host also impact and inform us about the evolution of our genome.
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19 Keywords:
5d Virology, Virus Replication, DNA Damage and Repair, Genome Instability, Viral Vectors
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21 Current projects:
b9 We have created an interactive and collaborative lab environment where students and postdocs are encouraged to explore multiple projects and challenge each other intellectually.
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51 - Impact of DNA damage responses on virus infection and gene delivery
46 - Identifying targets for viral encoded ubiquitin ligases
4e - Roles for post-translational modifications in regulating viruses
37 - Epigenetic changes during virus infection
49 - Identifying host restriction factors during virus infection
41 - Defining functions for the cellular APOBEC proteins
6c - Exploiting viral manipulation of cellular pathways to improve gene targeting and gene therapy
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1d Lab Personnel
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Selected Publications

192 Chaurushiya, MS, Lilley, CE, Aslanian, A, Meisenhelder, J, Scott, DC, Landry, S, Ticau, S, Boutell, C, Yates,JR, Schulman, BA, Hunter, T and Weitzman, MD: Viral E3 ubiquitin-mediated degradation of a cellular E3: viral mimicry of a cellular phosphorylation mark targets the RNF8 FHA domain. Molecular Cell 46(1): 79-90, Apr 2012.

fe Vogel, R, Seyffert, M, Strasser, R, de Oliveira, AP, Dresch, C, Glauser, DL, Jolinon, A, Salvetti, A, Weitzman,MD, Ackermann, M and Fraefel, C: Adeno-associated virus type 2 modulates the host DNA damage 8a response induced by herpes simplex virus type 1 during co-infection. Journal of Virology 86(1): 143-155, Jan 2012.

d7 Narvaiza I, Landry S, Weitzman, MD: APOBEC3 proteins and genomic stability: The high cost of a good defense. Cell Cycle 11(1): 33-8, Jan 2012.

f1 Weitzman MD, Lilley CE, Chaurushiya MS: Changing the ubiquitin landscape during viral manipulation of the DNA damage response. FEBS Letters 585(18): 2897-906, Sep 2011.

13f Lilley CE, Chaurushiya MS, Boutell C, Everett RD, Weitzman MD: The Intrinsic Antiviral Defense to Incoming HSV-1 Genomes Includes Specific DNA Repair Proteins and Is Counteracted by the Viral Protein ICP0. PLoS Pathogens 7(6): e1002084, Jun 2011.

e9 Landry S, Narvaiza I, Linfesty DC, Weitzman MD: APOBEC3A can activate the DNA damage response and cause cell-cycle arrest. EMBO Reports 12(5): 444-50, May 2011.

107 Orazio NI, Naeger CM, Karlseder J, Weitzman MD: The adenovirus E1b55K/E4orf6 complex induces degradation of the Bloom helicase during infection. Journal of Virology 85(4): 1887-92, Feb 2011.

ed Weitzman MD, Lilley CE, Chaurushiya MS: Genomes in conflict: maintaining genome integrity during virus infection. Annual Review of Microbiology 64: 61-81, Oct 2010.

14a Lilley CE, Chaurushiya MS, Boutell C, Landry S, Suh J, Panier S, Everett RD, Stewart GS, Durocher D, Weitzman MD: A viral E3 ligase targets RNF8 and RNF168 to control histone ubiquitination and DNA damage responses. The EMBO Journal 29(5): 943-55, Mar 2010.

143 Carson CT, Orazio NI, Lee DV, Suh J, Bekker-Jensen S, Araujo FD, Lakdawala SS, Lilley CE, Bartek J, Lukas J, Weitzman MD: Mislocalization of the MRN complex prevents ATR signaling during adenovirus infection. The EMBO Journal 28(6): 652-62, Mar 2009.

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