Replication, Population Dynamics, Genetics, & Evolution of Retroviruses

Robbie Narang
Predoctoral Student
B.S., University of New Mexico

Thesis Topic
Modeling retroviral evolution in vitro: engineering the virostat

Current Research
My research involves the nature of mutation in retrovirus populations that persist in steady state infections. By maintaining a continuous population of cells infected with retrovirus in vitro and using sensitive virus detection methods, I am investigating the kinetics by which mutations rise and fall in a retroviral population and how different parameters influence this evolution. This data will be used to refine formal models of retroviral evolution.