Qing (Sunny) Wang

2006 Research Trainee Award, Senior Graduate Studentship

New RNAs Phenotypes from old by random recombination and selection

The emergence of new viral species or strains by evolution is viewed as a great potential danger to human health. Besides mutation, recombination (shuffling of genes) plays an important role in the evolution of viruses – such as HIV or Hepatitis E. There is significant concern that more dangerous viral strains or species may evolve through recombination. However, the complexity of virus-host systems makes the study of this process very difficult.

Using a new method she developed, Qing (Sunny) Wang is using ribozymes (specific functional RNAs) as a model for studying the mechanisms of random recombination in viruses. She hopes that this work will shed more light on how viruses evolve through recombination.

Completed award term, August 2007

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