My current research is focusing on understanding the biology and the pathogenesis of oncogenic herpesviruses. My goal is to reveal the epigenetic mechanisms of Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) infection and virus/host interactions. KSHV is responsible for the development of the vascular tumor Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS), and two B cell lymphomas such as primary effusion lymphoma and a subset of multicentric Castleman’s disease in immunocompromised people. KSHV infection can lead to the development of oral KS, the most common oral malignancy in AIDS patients. KSHV has biphasic life-cycle; latency and lytic phase. My research led to the identification of several novel host restriction epigenetic factors for the lytic cycle of KSHV. Further, my research also includes investigating the role of hypoxia and SCF E3 ubiquitin ligase complex in the lytic infection of KSHV. Better understanding of what viral and host epigenetic factors control KSHV infection can lead to the development of novel strategies to blocking KSHV infection and pathogenesis. In my PhD, I have worked on the replication mechanisms of dengue virus in the cell culture models. Further, I have applied the baculovirus pseudo-display technology for development of vaccines against Dengue and Zika viral diseases. Also, discovered that baculovirus can be used as a gene delivery vehicle in mosquito cell lines, larvae and adult mosquitoes.

1.       Naik NG, Juan D Alonso, Toth Z. KDM2B Facilitates LyticDe Novo KSHV Infection throughInteraction with the E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Complex SCF and Inducing AP-1transcriptional Activity. J Virol. 2020 (Manuscript under revision).

2.       Naik NG, NguyenTH, Roberts L, Fischer LT, Glickman K, Golas G, Papp B, Toth Z. Epigeneticfactor siRNA screen during primary KSHV infection identifies novel hostrestriction factors for the lytic cycle of KSHV. PLoS Pathog. 2020 Jan10;16(1):e1008268.

3.       Gavin Golas, Seung Jin Jang, Naik NG,Juan D Alonso, Bernadett Papp, Zsolt Toth. Comparative analysis of the viralinterferon regulatory factors of KSHV for their requisite for virus productionand inhibition of the type I interferon pathway. Virology, Volume 541, February2020, Pages 160-173.

4.       Naik NG,Pao-Yin Chiang, Po-Chiang Chen, Chiao-Ling Hung, Kuan-Sheng Wu and Wu HN.Reverse Genetics Study on Dengue Virus NS4B Reveals Interaction with NS4A andComplex Intramolecular Interactions. J Virol. 2020 (Manuscript under review).

5.       Naik NG,Yu-Wen Lo, Tzong-Yuan Wu, Chang-Chi Lin, Szu-Cheng Kuo, Yu-Chan Chao. Baculovirus as an Efficient Vector for GeneDelivery into Mosquitoes. (Scientific Reports. 2018 volume 8, Article number: 17778

6.       Chia-Hung Wang, Naik NG, Lin-Li Liao, Sung-Chan Wei and Yu-Chan Chao. Global Screening ofAntiviral Genes that Suppress Baculovirus Transgene Expression in MammalianCells. (Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev. 2017 Sep 15; 6:194–206)

7.       NaikNG, WuHN. Mutation of putative N-glycosylation sites on Dengue NS4B decreases RNAreplication. J Virol. 2015 Jul 1; 89 (13):6746-60.

8.       Sathish T, Brahmaiah P, Sathya K, Bhojaraju P, Naik NG, Kezia D, Prakasam RS. Anovel RP-HPLC method for the determination of bharangin in Ghantu bharangicrude extracts. Pak J Pharm Sci. 2009 Jan;22 (1):68-73