Email: pkrell@uoguelph.ca

Office: SCIE 4252
Ext: 53368
Lab: SCIE 4206
Ext: 53264

 

Education

B.Sc. Carleton
M.Sc. Carleton
Ph.D. Dalhousie

Research

Virology has always fascinated me for the intrinsic sophistication and simplicity of viruses as they usurp the cell for their own replication and as a vehicle for dissecting the molecular events that occur within a cell. In my laboratory we are interested in understanding the mechanisms and intracellular components involved in the molecular virology of  the ubiquitous large dsDNA genome insect baculoviruses specifically focussing on  transcriptional regulation, DNA replication, genomics, proteomics, viral protein functions, localizations and interactions. For example, we are searching for origins of DNA replication (where DNA replication starts) on the baculovirus genome and are interested in dissecting the enzyme complex and regulation needed to realize this most fundamental of all biological processes. We are using the tools of transcriptomics and proteomics to unravel, on a global level, how these viruses regulate themselves and take over the cells metabolism and molecular machinery to its own advantage. For example we found, from the work of a PhD student that the baculovirus ME53 protein is transported to budding sites on the cell membrane of virus infected cells where it probably assists the virus in “budding” from the cell. In a study by another PhD student, we are looking at the interaction and regulation of a viral chitinase and cathepsin. These two hydrolytic enzymes are made early in the replication cycle but are not activated and released until after a high level of virus replication has occurred. These enzymes help to disrupt the structural integrity of the infected insect larvae causing it to liquefy which assists in the transmission of virus to nearby insects in the environment. Such knowledge could be used in the context of using baculoviruses to generate environmentally benign, highly species specific, biological control agents against insect pests (particularly in forests). Furthermore with colleagues in the Department of Pathobiology, I am studying animal viruses, in particular fowl adenoviruses, as vectors to produce subunit or live viral vaccines for several animal viral diseases, and have recently begun a collaboration on influenza virus research.

Selected Publications, 2006-2010

Song C, Krell P, Yoo D. 2010. Nonstructural protein 1α subunit-based inhibition of NF-κB activation and suppression of interferon-β production by porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus. Virology EPub Ahead of Print, PMID: 20850164

Nisole A, Stewart, D, Bowman, S, Zhang, D, Krell PJ, Doucet D and Cusson M. 2010. Cloning and characterization of a Gasp homolog from the spruce budworm Choristoneura fumiferana and its putative role in cuticle formation. J Insect Physiol. 56:1427-1435.

Slack, JM, Lawrence, SD, Krell, PJ and Arif BM. 2010 A soluble form of P74 can act as a per os infectivity factor to the Autographa californica nucleopolyhedrovirus. J. Gen Virol. 91:915-918.

de Jong, Jondavid, Theilmann, David, Arif, Basil and Krell, Peter 2009. The AcMNPV Me53 is non essential for virus replication but influences budded virus production. J. Virol 83:7440-7448.

Perera, S, Wong P, Krell PJ and Arif BM. 2009. Expression of heterologous genes in Amsacta moorei entompoxvirus. J Virol Meth 165:1-8.

Hodgson, Jeff, Arif, Basil and Krell, Peter 2008. The AcMNPV and CfMNPV v-cath genes are expressed as pre-proenzymes. J Gen Virol. 90:995-1000.

Huang, Yufen, Krell, Peter, Ladd, Tim, Feng, Qili and Zheng, Sichun 2008. Cloning, characterization and expression of two glutathione S-transferase cDNAs in the spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana. Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology 70:44-56.

Rebelo, Anna Rita, Niewiadomski, Stella, Prosser, Sean, Krell, Peter and Baozhong Meng 2008. Subcellular localization of the triple gene block proteins encoded by a foveavirus infecting grapevines. Virus Research 138:57-69.

Quan, Guo-Xing,  Doucet, Daniel, Ladd, Tim, Krell, Peter J. and Arif Basil, M. 2008. Cloning and characterization of a protein kinase C gene from the spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 38:984-92.

Slack, Jeffrey M, Lawrence, Susan D, Krell, Peter J and Arif, Basil M. Trypsin cleavage of the baculovirus occlusion derived virus attachment protein P74 is prerequisite for in per os infection. J. Gen Virology 89:2388-2397.

Doucet Daniel, Beliveau Catherine, Dowling A, Simard J, Feng Qili, Krell Peter J, Cusson Michel . 2008. Prophenoloxidases 1 and 2 from the spruce budworm, Choristoneura  fumiferana: Molecular cloning and assessment of transcriptional regulation by a polydnavirus. Arch Insect Biochem Physiol. 67:188-201

Corredor, Juan Carlos, Grceac, Amalia, Krell, Peter J and Nagy É, 2008. Sequence comparison of the right end of fowl adenovirus genomes. Virus Genes (in press, Dec 27, 2007)

Zheng, Yiping Krell, Peter J.,Doucet, Daniel, Arif, Basil M, and Feng, Qili. 2008. Cloning, expression and localization of a molt-related beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase in the spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana. Arch. Insect Biochem and Physiol 68:49-59.

Ojkic, Davor, Krell, Peter and Nagy, Éva. 2007. Characterization of fowl adenoviruses isolated in Ontario and Quebec, Canada, Can J. Vet Res (in press, July 09, 2007)

Thumbi David, Arif, Basil M and Krell, Peter J. 2007. Susceptibility of Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) to inhibitors of DNA Replication,J. Virol Methods 146:209-217.

Hodgson, Jeffrey, Arif, Basil M and Krell, Peter J. 2007. Reprogramming the Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus chiA expression profile, J. Gen Virol 88:2479-2487.

Zheng, Sechun, Deng HM, Ladd, Tim, Tompkins William, Krell PJ, Feng QL 2007. Cloning and characterization of two glutathione S-transferase cDNAs in the spruce budworm Choristoneura fumiferana. Arch Insect Biochem Physiol 66:146-157.

Yang, Dan-Hui, Barari, Mehrnoosh, Arif Basil M. and Krell, Peter J. 2007 Development of an oligonucleotide-based DNA microarray for transcriptional analysis of Choristoneura fumiferana nucleopolyhedrovirus (CfMNPV) genes J Virological Methods 143:175-185.

Escasa, Shannon R, Lauzon HA, Mathur, AC, Krell PJ and Arif BM, 2006. Sequence analysis of the Choristoneura occidentalis granulovirus genome. J Gen Virol 87:1917-1933.

Corredor, Juan-Carlos, Krell, Peter J and Nagy, Éva. 2006. Sequence analysis of the left end of fowl adenovirus genomes. Virus Genes 33:95-106.

Quan Guo-Xin, Krell Peter J, Arif Basil, M, Feng Qili. 2006. Receptor of activated C kinase 1 (RACK1) is necessary for the 20-hydroxyecdysone-induced expression of the transcription factor CHR3 in the spruce budworm Choristoneura fumiferana. Insect Mol Biol 15:79-87

Yang Dan-Hui, Makhmoudova Amina, Arif Basil M, Feng Qili, Retnakaran Arthur, Palli Suba Reddi, Krell Peter J. 2006. DNA versus protein immunisation for production of monoclonal antibodies against Choristoneura fumiferana ecdysone receptor (CfEcR). Vaccine 24:3115-3126.

Teaching

MICR*3330 The World of Viruses
MICR*4330 Molecular Virology
MCB*6330 Molecular Biology of Viruses

Lab Members

Graduate Students

Jondavid De Jong (Ph.D.)
Jeff Hodgson (Ph.D.)
Michael Norris (M.Sc.)
Alexandra Elliot (M.Sc.)
Yang Liu (Ph.D.)

Postdoctoral Fellows

Guozhong Feng

Technician

David Leishman

At Guelph article

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