Dr. GOPAL NAIK NENAVATH
 
 
First Name
GOPAL NAIK
Last Name
NENAVATH
University/Institution
University of Florida
Email ID
ngopalnaik@gmail.com
City
Gainesville
Country
United States
State
Florida
Zip code
32608
Department
Oral Biology
Area of Research
Investigating the biology and the pathogenesis of oncogenic herpesviruses.
Area of Expertise
Molecular Biology, Virology, Cell Biology, Cancer Epigenetics, Immunology, and Vaccine Development.
Brief Description of Research Interest:
 

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 immuno-compromised 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.

 
Representative Publications:
 

1.        Naik NG, See-Chi Lee, Juan D Alonso, Toth Z. KDM2B Overexpression Facilitates Lytic De Novo KSHV Infection by Inducing AP-1 Activity Through Interaction with the SCF E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Complex. J Virol. 2021 (DOI: 10.1128/JVI.00331-21)

2.        Naik NG, Nguyen TH, Roberts L, Fischer LT, Glickman K, Golas G, Papp B, Toth Z. Epigenetic factor siRNA screen during primary KSHV infection identifies novel host restriction factors for the lytic cycle of KSHV. PLoS Pathog. 2020 Jan 10;16(1):e1008268.

3.        Gavin Golas, Seung Jin Jang, Naik NG, Juan D Alonso, Bernadett Papp, Zsolt Toth. Comparative analysis of the viral interferon regulatory factors of KSHV for their requisite for virus production and inhibition of the type I interferon pathway. Virology, Volume 541, February 2020, 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 and Complex 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 Gene Delivery 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 of Antiviral Genes that Suppress Baculovirus Transgene Expression in Mammalian Cells. (Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev. 2017 Sep 15; 6: 194–206)

7.        Naik NG, Wu HN. Mutation of putative N-glycosylation sites on Dengue NS4B decreases RNA replication. J Virol. 2015 Jul 1; 89 (13):6746-60.

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