Our research focuses on understanding the structure and function of viral RNAs, viral manipulation of cellular machines, and translation regulation. Our main focus is to understand RNAs produced and used by viruses to take over an infected cell. We are motivated by two premises: (1) infectious diseases (such as viruses) are still the largest threat to human health worldwide, and (2) by studying how viruses take over the cell’s machinery, we learn a tremendous amount about fundamental processes within the cell itself.
For more information on our research interests and projects in the lab, please visit the Kieft Lab website.