Hantavirus Cardiopulmonary Syndrome: New Approaches to Treatment and Pathogenesis

Center for Infection and Immunity Distinguished Lecture Series
December 9, 2011
11:00AM-12:00PM

Mailman School of Public Health
722 W. 168th Street
8th Floor Auditorium 

Hantavirus Cardiopulmonary Syndrome: New Approaches to Treatment and Pathogenesis

Brian Hjelle, MD
Professor, Departments of Pathology, Biology, and Molecular Genetics & Microbiology
Center for Infectious Diseases and Immunity
Health Sciences Center
University of New Mexico

Brian Hjelle, MD, was a newly-appointed virologist at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center when the UNM Hospital and the southwestern US were caught in an outbreak of a previously undescribed and often fatal viral illness that caused fever cardiorespiratory collapse. The syndrome was shown to be caused by a previously unknown hantavirus, Sin Nombre virus, and became known as hantavirus (cardio)pulmonary syndrome or HCPS. Since that time Dr. Hjelle has been involved in every aspect of hantavirus biology, starting with invention of a reliable diagnostic test and identification of prototypical new hantaviruses throughout the Americas, to development of the first animal models, to studies of ecology and evolution, to the present emphasis on cell biology, treatment, and pathogenesis of this group of dangerous pathogens. He will discuss aspects of viral-receptor interactions, signaling pathways induced by viral binding, potential avenues toward better treatment and mediators induced in the course of acute HCPS.