Teaching Interests
- Virology
- Molecular biology
Research Interests
Our group studies how viruses cause disease in humans. In particular, we are interested in studying viral pathogens that infect human blood cells. Examples include Dengue Virus (DV), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), and Kaposi’s Sarcoma Her¬pesvirus (KSHV). A better understanding of these can lead to the development of vaccines to prevent new infections and anti¬viral drugs to treat current infections. The lack of animal models that can be infected with hu¬man viruses and exhibit similar disease has se¬riously hampered these areas of research. In order to study viral infections of human cells in vivo, we use “humanized mice.” A humanized mouse is one in which human cells have been transplanted. In particular, we transplant hu¬man hematopoietic stem cells in newborn mice; this then leads to multi-lineage hematopoiesis (production of a variety of human blood cell types) and the production of a human immune system in the mouse. Antibody and cellular immune responses of human origin can then be generated in the mouse to a pathogen of interest.
DV infects approximately 100 million worldwide per year and the rate is rapidly increasing. Infection can lead to hemorrhagic fever and death, but no vaccines or antiviral are available. About 40 million people worldwide are infected with HIV, and millions die each year from complications due to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). No vaccines exist, and although effective antiviral drugs are available, they have undesirable side effects and the virus can mutate to make them ineffec¬tive. One side-effect of AIDS is that some chronic viral infections that normally exhibit little to no disease can begin to cause serious disease, such as HIV-associated lymphoma, (cancer of white blood cells). Examples of these cancers are found in patients co-infected with HIV and EBV or KSHV. Once again, no vaccines are available for EBV or KSHV, and we have little understanding of how immunosuppression leads to development of cancer.
Work in our lab involves infecting humanized mice with various viral pathogens, and then studying how disease is caused (pathogenesis). Immunization strategies are being investigated to determine what formulations would be most effective for testing potential vaccines in humans. Additionally, antiviral drugs can be tested for efficacy and toxicity. Those who work in the lab gain valuable experience in the areas of: laboratory mouse handling/manipulation, mouse injections, mouse dissec¬tions, drawing blood, production of virus stocks, virus titering, tissue culture (cell lines and primary human hematopoietic stem cells), handling infectious substances, RNA in situ hybridization, immunostaining, flow cytometry (FACS), DNA and RNA extraction, PCR, RT-PCR, and Quantitative PCR, ELISA, and analysis of human immune responses (antibody and cellular).
Education
- Ph.D., Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Pennsylvania, 2005
- B.S., Microbiology, Brigham Young University, 1999
Experience
Professional
- Post-doctoral Fellow, Colorado State University, 2006-2008
Courses Taught
Winter 2019
- MMBIO 240: Molecular Biology Section 004
- MMBIO 294R: Mentored Research Section 001
- MMBIO 465: Virology Section 001
- MMBIO 466: Virology Laboratory Section 001, 002
- MMBIO 494R: Advanced Mentored Research Section 001
- MMBIO 520: Molecular Virology Section 001
- MMBIO 695R: Research Section 001
Fall 2018
- MMBIO 240: Molecular Biology Section 001, 004
- MMBIO 465: Virology Section 001
- MMBIO 494R: Advanced Mentored Research Section 001
- MMBIO 695R: Research Section 001
Summer 2018
- MMBIO 240: Molecular Biology Section 001
- MMBIO 494R: Mentored Research Section 001
- MMBIO 695R: Research Section 001
Spring 2018
- MMBIO 494R: Mentored Research Section 001
- MMBIO 695R: Research Section 001
Publications
Journal Articles
Benjamin R, Berges BK, Solis-Leal A, Igbinedion O, Strong C, Schiller M. 2016. TALEN gene editing takes aim on HIV. Human Genetics. 135(9):1059-70.
Cornaby C, Tanner A, Stutz EW, Poole BD, Berges BK. 2015. Piracy on the Molecular Level: Human Herpesviruses Manipulate Cellular Chemotaxis. Journal of General Virology. in press(in press):in press.
Jensen KC, Hair BB, Wienclaw TM, Murdock MH, Hatch JB, Trent AT, White TD, Haskell KJ, Berges BK. 2015. Isolation and Host Range of Bacteriophage with Lytic Activity against Methicillin- Resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Potential Use as a Fomite Decontaminant. PLoS One. 10(7):e0131714.
Tanner A, Hallam SJ, Nielsen SJ, Cuadra GI, Berges BK. 2015. Development of human B cells and antibodies following human hematopoietic stem cell transplantation to Rag2−/−γc−/− mice. Transplant Immunology. 32(3):144-150.
Horvat B, Berges BK, Lusso P. 2014. Recent Developments in Animal Models for Human Herpesvirus 6A and 6B. Current Opinion in Virology. 9:97-103.
Berges BK, Tanner A. 2014. Modeling of human herpesvirus infections in humanized mice. Journal of General Virology. 95:2106-17.
Tanner A, Taylor SE, Decottignies W, Berges BK. 2014. Humanized mice as a model to study hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Stem Cells & Development. 23(1):76-82.
Tanner A, Carlson SA, Nukui M, Murphy EA, Berges BK. 2013. Human herpesvirus 6A infection and immunopathogenesis in humanized Rag2-/-c-/- Mice. Journal of Virology. 87(22):12020-8.
Book Chapter
Sanchez FM, Berges BK. 2013. Characterization of HIV-1 infection in the humanized Rag2-/-γc-/- mouse model. Irving C. Allen, editor. Methods in Molecular Biology. New York, New York: Humana Press.
Sanchez FM, Cuadra GI, Nielsen SJ, Tanner A, Berges BK. 2013. Production and characterization of humanized Rag2-/-gc-/- mice. Irving C. Allen, editor. Methods in Molecular Biology. N: Humana.
Journal Contribution, Nonfiction
Berges BK, Solis-Leal A. 2016. Advances in nucleases used for genome editing. JSM Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Presentations
Guerrero I, Hoj T, Berges BK, Robison RA. Effects and Differences Between Human and Mouse Cell Lines During Chikungunya Infection. American Society of Microbiology Intermountain Branch Meeting. Ogden, UT. 2017.
Daniels C, Berges BK. Hamsters Expected to Produce Better Immune System than Mice. LDS Life Science Symposium. 2016.
Haskell K, Schriever S, Wienclaw T, Hair B, Haws B, Berges BK. Frequency and Characterization of Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA in raw meat samples in the Utah County Area. American Society of Microbiology Intermountain Branch Meeting. 2016.
Daniels C, Berges BK. American Society of Microbiology Intermountain Branch Meeting. Hamsters Expected to Produce Better Immune System than Mice. 2016.
Daniels C, Berges BK. Hamsters Expected to Produce a Better Immune System than Mice. UCUR. 2016.
Haskell KJ, Schriever SR, Wienclaw TM, Berges BK. Frequency and Characterization of Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA in raw meat samples in the Utah County Area. Utah Conference on Undergraduate Research. UVU. 2016.
Jensen KC, Wienclaw TM, Hatch JB, White TD, Hair BB, Trent AT, Haskell KJ, Berges BK. Characterization of Novel Bacteriophage with Lytic Activity Against MRSA and Utility for Decontamination of Fomites Associated with Nosocomial Transmission. American Society for Microbiology. 2015.
Haskell KJ, Wienclaw TM, Jensen KC, Murdock MH, Hatch JB, White TD, Hair BB, Trent AT, Berges BK. Isolation and Characterization of Novel Lytic Phage to Treat Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus. American Society of Microbiology Intermountain Branch Meeting. 2015.
White TD, Jensen KC, Wienclaw TM, Hatch JB, Hair BB, Trent AT, Berges BK. Isolation and Characterization of Novel Lytic Phage to Treat Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus. Utah Conference on Undergraduate Research. 2015.
Wienclaw T, Jensen K, Hatch J, White T, Hair B, Berges BK. Isolation and characterization of novel bacteriophage as a control of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus. Autumn Immunology Conference. 2014.
Tanner A, Carlson S, Decottignies W, Hallam S, Willyerd H, Nukui M, Murphy E, Berges BK. Human herpesvirus 6A infection of humanized mice and effects on human T cell populations. American Society for Virology, 2014. 2014.
Jensen K, Murdock M, Hatch J, White T, Berges BK. Isolation and characterization of novel bacteriophage as a control of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus. American Society of Microbiology Intermountain Branch Meeting, 2014. 2014.
Tanner A, Carlson SA, Decottignies W, Taylor SE, Berges BK. Humanized mice as a novel model to study human herpesvirus 6 tropism and infection. 8th International Conference on HHV-6 & 7. Paris, France. 2013.
Nielsen SJ, Cuadra GI, Berges BK. Human B Cell Development and Antibody Responses in Humanized Mice. Autumn Immunology Conference. Chicago, Illinois. 2012.
Cuadra GI, Nielsen SJ, Berges BK. Humanized mice as a Model to Study the Development of human B Cells and Antibody Responses. American Society of Microbiology Intermountain Branch Meeting. Pocatello, Idaho. 2012.
