Jennifer Bordeaux ’06 (right) majored in biochemistry and will continue her research into HPV L2 proteins in Professor Moroianu’s laboratory this summer, and then pursue a Ph.D. in pharmacology and molecular medicine at Yale University, in New Haven, this fall.

“Characterization of the Interactions of Low Risk Human Papillomavirus 11 L2 Minor Capsid Protein with Nuclear Import Receptors and Viral DNA”

Junona Moroianu, associate professor, biology department

“During human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, the L2 minor capsid protein enters the nucleus twice, in the initial phase and in the productive phase, when L2 together with L1 mediate encapsidation of the replicated viral DNA to form new virions. Jennifer’s research established that the low-risk HPV11 L2 can interact via its two nuclear localization signals with several nuclear import receptors and the viral DNA, and may enter the nucleus via multiple pathways. This study, accepted for publication in the Journal of Virology, advances understanding of major nuclear import pathways relevant to papillomavirus infection.”