George Rohrmann

Baculoviridae, Virus Structure, Viral DNA Replication

Research interests:  Baculovirus molecular biology, Insect Retroviruses

Office:  ALS 1073C

Courses taught:  MB 434/534 Virology; MB 699 Molecular Virology; MCB 555 Eukaryotic molecular genetics

Degrees:  Ph.D., University of Washington

Research

Baculoviruses are a group of occluded insect viruses that have received considerable attention because of their potential for application in insect control programs and their widespread use as expression vectors.  They encode a unique RNA polymerase that expresses several late genes at some of the highest levels reported for eukaryotic systems.  We are focusing on two main areas of baculovirus molecular biology: the characterization of DNA sequences and gene products involved in baculovirus genome replication and processing, and the characterization of baculovirus envelope proteins that are required for viral entry into cells.  We have identified a baculovirus-encoded protein complex composed of a nuclease and single strand DNA binding protein that may be involved in DNA recombination. We have also identified a family of envelope fusion proteins shared between baculoviruses and a group of insect retroviruses and we are investigating their function and evolution.

Selected Publications

Pub Med

Moerdyk-Schauwecker, M., Eide, K., Bildfel, R. Baker, R.J., Black, W., Graham, D., Thompson, K., Rohrmann, G. F. and  Jin, L. (2009)  Characterization of Cervidpoxvirus isolates from Oregon, California, and Eastern Canada. J Vet Diagn Invest, 21, in press.

Long, C.M., Rohrmann, G.F. and Merrill, G.F. (2009) The conserved baculovirus protein p33 (Ac92) is a flavin adenine dinucleotide-linked sulfhydryl oxidase. Virology 388(2), 231-5

Mikhailov, V.S., Vanarsdall, A.L. and Rohrmann, G.F. (2008) Isolation and characterization of the DNA-binding protein (DBP) of the Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus. Virology 415-429.

Rohrmann, G.F. (2008) Retroviruses of Insects. In: B. Mahy and  M. Van Regenmortel (Eds), Encyclopedia of Virology, 3rd ed. Vol. 4. Pp. 451-454. Elsevier, London.

Menzel, T. and Rohrmann, G.F. (2008) Diversity of errantivirus (retrovirus) sequences in two cell lines used for baculovirus expression, Spodoptera frugiperda and Trichoplusia ni. Virus Genes 36, 583-586.

Jin, L., Löhr, C.V., Vanarsdall, A., Baker, R.J., Moerdyk-Schauwecker, M., Levine, C., Gerlach, R.F., Cohen, S.A., Alvarado, D. E., Rohrmann, G. F. (2008)  Characterization of an alpha-herpesvirus associated with fatal infections of domestic rabbits. Virology 378, 13-20.

Rohrmann GF. Baculovirus Molecular Biology. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US), National Center for Biotechnology Information; 2008 November. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bookshelf/br.fcgi?book=bacvir

Vanarsdall, A.L., Pearson, M.N. and Rohrmann, G.F. (2007) Characterization of baculovirus constructs lacking either the Ac 101, Ac 142, or the Ac 144 open reading frame. Virology 367, 187-95.

Vanarsdall, A.L., Mikhailov, V.S. and Rohrmann, G.F. (2007) Characterization of a baculovirus lacking the DBP (DNA-binding protein) gene. Virology 364, 475-85.

Okano, K., Vanarsdall, A.L., and Rohrmann, G.F.  2007. A Baculovirus alkaline nuclease knock out construct produces fragmented DNA and aberrant capsids. Virology 359:46-54.

Pearson, M.N. and Rohrmann, G.F. 2006. Envelope gene capture and insect retrovirusevolution: the relationship between errantivirus and baculovirus envelope proteins. Virus Res., 118, 7-15.

Mikhailov, V.S., Okano, K. and Rohrmann, G.F. 2006.  Structural and functional analysisof the baculovirus single-stranded DNA-binding protein LEF-3. Virology 346: 469-478.

Vanarsdall, A.L., Okano, K. and Rohrmann, G.F. 2006. Characterization of the role ofbaculovirus very late factor-1 in capsid structure and DNA processing. J. Virol. 80: 1724-1733.

Okano, K., Vanarsdall, A.L., Mikhailov, V.S., and Rohrmann, G.F. 2006.  Conserved molecular systems of the Baculoviridae. Invited review. Virology,344:77-87.

Vanarsdall, A.L., Okano, K. and Rohrmann, G.F. 2005. Characterization of the replication of a baculovirus mutant lacking the DNA polymerase gene. Virology, 331:175-180.

Mikhailov, V.S., Okano, K. and Rohrmann, G.F. (2005) The Redox State of the Baculovirus Single-stranded DNA-binding Protein LEF-3 Regulates Its DNA Binding, Unwinding, and Annealing Activities. J Biol Chem 280(33), 29444-53.

Vanarsdall, A.L., K. Okano, and G. Rohrmann 2004 Characterization of a baculovirus with a deletion of vlf-1. Virology 326 (1):191-201.

Okano, K., Vanarsdall, A.L. and G. Rohrmann 2004 Characterization of a baculovirus lacking Alkaline Nuclease Gene. J. Virol. 78. 10650-10656.

Mikhailov, V., K. Okano, and G. Rohrmann 2004. Specifity of the Endonuclease Activity of the Baculovirus Alkaline Nuclease for Single-stranded DNA. J. Biol. Chem. 279. 14734-14745.

Pearson, M.N. and G. Rohrmann 2004. Conservation of a proteinase cleavage site between an insect retrovirus (gypsy) env protein and a baculovirus envelope fusion protein. Virology 322. 61-68.

Mikhailov, V., K. Okano, and G. Rohrmann (2003) Baculovirus Alkaline Nuclease Possesses a 5'->3' Exonuclease Activity and Associates with the DNA-Binding Protein LEF-3. J. Virol. 77:2436-2444.

Pearson, M. N., R. L. Q. Russell, and G. F. Rohrmann (2002) Functional analysis of a conserved region of the baculovirus envelope fusion protein, LD130. Virology 304:81-88.

Mikhailov, V., and G. Rohrmann (2002) Binding of the baculovirus very late expression factor 1 (VLF-1) to different DNA structures. BMC Molecular Biology 3:14.

Pearson, M. N., and G. F. Rohrmann (2002) Transfer, incorporation, and substitution of envelope fusion proteins among members of the Baculoviridae, Orthomyxoviridae, and Metaviridae (insect retrovirus) families. J. Virol. 76:5301-5304.

Mikhailov, V. S., and G. F. Rohrmann (2002) The Baculovirus Replication Factor LEF-1 is a DNA Primase. J. Virol. 76:2287-2297.

Pearson, M. N., R. Russell, and G. F. Rohrmann (2001) Characterization of a baculovirus encoded protein that is associated  with infected-cell membranes and budded virions. Virology . 291:22-31. 

Rohrmann ,G.F and P. A. Karplus (2001) Relatedness of baculovirus and gypsy retrotransposon envelope proteins. BMC Evolutionary Biology , 1:1.

Pearson, M.N., Groten, C., and G. F. Rohrmann (2000) Identification of the Lymantria dispar nucleopolyhedrovirus envelope fusion protein provides evidence for a phylogenetic division of the baculoviridae. J. Virol. 74:6126-6131.

Li, L. and G.F. Rohrmann (2000) Characterization of a baculovirus alkaline nuclease. J. Virol. 74:6401-6407.

Leisy, D.J. and G.F. Rohrmann (2000) The Autographa californica multicapsid nuclear polyhedrovirus IE-1 protein complex has two modes of specific DNA binding. Virology, 274:196-202.

Hayakawa, T., Rohrmann, G.F. and Y. Hashimoto (2000) Patterns of genome organization and content in lepidopteran baculoviruses. Virology 278:1-12.

Evans, J. T., G. S. Rosenblatt, D. J. Leisy, and G. F. Rohrmann (1999) Characterization of the interaction between the baculovirus ssDNA- binding protein (LEF-3) and putative helicase (P143). J Gen Virol 80:493-500.

Kuzio, J., M. N. Pearson, S. H. Harwood, C. J. Funk, J. T. Evans, J. Slavicek, and G. F. Rohrmann (1999) Sequence and analysis of the genome of a baculovirus pathogenic for Lymantria dispar. Virology , 253:17-34.

Li, L., S. H. Harwood, and G. F. Rohrmann (1999) Identification of additional genes that influence baculovirus late gene expression. Virology 255:9-19.

Rohrmann, G. F. (1999) Nuclear polyhedrosis viruses. In: Encyclopedia of Virology 2nd Ed Webster, R.G. and Granoff, A. Eds.