Research Interests
Systemic lupus erythematosus is a common, debilitating autoimmune disease in which components of the body’s own cells are targeted and attacked by the immune system. The origins of the disease are still unclear, but it is known that genetic, environmental, and hormonal factors are all involved in causing lupus. We are studying the interactions of genetic risk factor and the putative environmental factor Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Considerable evidence indicates that EBV infection is associated with lupus. The major question with this finding is that nearly ev¬eryone has been infected with EBV, while very few of those people will go on to develop lupus. The genetic background of the person may play a key role in deciding the outcome of the infection.
Although there is a strong genetic component to lupus, not much is known about how genes influence the development of the disease. We are fo¬cusing on lupus-associated variations in the IRF5 gene. The IRF5 protein is a key intermediary in the response to viral infection, and interacts with EBV during the course of the EBV infection. We hypothesize that the modifica¬tions to the IRF5 gene associated with lupus cause aberrant activation of EBV and heightened response to EBV infection, potentially leading to the altered immune response to EBV seen in lupus patients and people at risk for lupus.
Through studying these interactions, we hope to identify markers for peo¬ple who are at high risk for lupus, and early indicators that autoimmunity is devel¬oping. Early intervention in the disease has shown promise in slowing its effects.
Memberships
- American College of Rheumatology, 2012-Present
Honors and Awards
- Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society : Phi Kappa Phi Election
- BYU Honors : Alcuin Fellow
- College of Life Sciences : College Outstanding Teaching Award
- Lupus Foundation of America-Utah Chapter : Research Recognition Award
- Fulbright Organization : Fulbright Scholar
Courses Taught
Winter 2019
- HONRS 220: Unexpect Connect: Biol-Letters Section 001
- MMBIO 240: Molecular Biology Section 001, 003
- MMBIO 261: Infection & Immunity Section 001
- MMBIO 294R: Mentored Research Section 015
- MMBIO 494R: Advanced Mentored Research Section 015
Fall 2018
- HONRS 220: Unexpect Connect: Biol-Letters Section 001
- MMBIO 261: Infection & Immunity Section 001
- MMBIO 494R: Advanced Mentored Research Section 015
Summer 2018
- MMBIO 494R: Mentored Research Section 014
Spring 2018
- MMBIO 494R: Mentored Research Section 014
Publications
Journal Articles
Johnson DK, Mello EJ, Walker TD, Hood SJ, Jensen JL, Poole BD. 2019. Combating Vaccine Hesitancy with Vaccine-Preventable Disease Familiarization: An Interview and Curriculum Intervention for College Students. Vaccines. 7(2).
Figueiredo-Braga M, Cornaby C, Cortez A, Bernardes M, Terroso G, Figueiredo M, Mesquita C, Costa L, Poole BD. 2018. Depression and anxiety in systemic lupus erythematosus: The crosstalk between immunological, clinical, and psychosocial factors. Medicine. 97(28).
Figueiredo-Braga M, Cornaby C, Cortez A, Bernardes M, Terroso G, Figueiredo M, Mesquita C, Costa L, Poole BD. 2018. Influence of Biological Therapeutics, Cytokines, and Disease Activity on Depression in Rheumatoid Arthritis. Journal of Immunology Research. 2018:Article ID 5954897, 9 pages.
Figueiredo-Braga M, Cornaby C, Bernardes M, Figueiredo M, Mesquita C, Costa L, Poole BD. 2018. Correlation between physical markers and psychiatric health in a Portuguese systemic lupus erythematosus cohort: The role of suffering in chronic autoimmune disease. Plos ONE. 13(4).
Cornaby C, Jafek JL, Birrell C, Mayhew V, Syndergaard L, Mella J, Cheney W, Poole BD. 2016. EBI2 expression in B lymphocytes is controlled by the Epstein-Barr virus transcription factor, BRRF1 (Na), during viral infection. Journal of General Virology.
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.
Cornaby C, Gibbons L, Mayhew V, Sloan CS, Welling A, Poole BD. 2014. B cell epitope spreading: Mechanisms and contribution to autoimmune diseases. Immunology Letters. 163(1):56-68.
Clark DN, Read RD, Mayhew V, Petersen SC, Stutz LA, Argueta LB, Till RE, Bergsten SM, Robinson BS, Baumann DG, et al. 2013. Molecular Effects of Autoimmune-Risk Promoter Polymorphisms on Expression, Exon Choice, and Translational Efficiency of Interferon Regulatory Factor 5. Journal of Interferon and Cytokine Research.
Clark DN, Read RD, Mayhew V, Petersen SC, Argueta LB, Stutz LA, Till RE, Bergsten SM, Robinson BS, Baumann DG, et al. 2013. Four promoters of IRF5 respond distinctly to stimuli and are affected by autoimmune-risk polymorphisms. Frontiers in Immunology. 11.
Clark DN, Markham JL, Sloan CS, Poole BD. 2012. Cytokine inhibition as a strategy for treating systemic lupus erythematosus. Clinical Immunology.
Guthridge J, Clark DN, Templeton A, Dominguez N, Lu R, Vidal G, Kelley JA, Kauffman K, Harley JB, Gaffney P, et al. 2012. Effects of IRF5 lupus risk haplotype on pathways predicted to influence B cell functions. Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology. 2012(594056):12.
Clark DN, Poole BD, Hedman TJ, Hammond DV, Catts DS, Stewart A, Johnson FB. 2011. Characterization of herpes simplex virus clinical isolate Y3369 and its bearing on HSV typing. Virology Journal. 8:290-293.
Book Chapter
Clark DN, Poole BD. 2012. Interferon and Apoptosis in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Hani Almoallim, editor. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. p. 77-96
Editorial
Poole BD, Neiwold T, Tsokos G. 2012. Cytokines in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.
Poole BD, Niewold TB, Tsokos GC, Via CS. 2011. Cytokines in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.
Presentations
Poole BD, Cornaby C, Eberting K, Cheney W, Walker G, Smith C, Dowling T, Mello E. Decreased B Cell Activation-Induced Apoptosis in Cells Overexpressing Interferon Regulatory Factor 5 (IRF5), a Gene Associated with Risk for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Other Autoimmune Diseases. American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting. Washington, D.C. 2016 .
Catts D, Lambert J, Argueta L, Pham M, Bills T, Poole BD. Characterization of a herpes simplex virus variant as a common glycoprotein G mutant and its implications on HSV detection methods. National Connference for Undergraduate Research 2012. Ogden, UT. 2012 .
Poole BD, Till R. SLE risk gene IRF5: a translational analysis. National Connference for Undergraduate Research 2012. Ogden, UT. 2012 .
Clark DN, Poole BD. Effects on IRF5 First Exon Usage of an Allele Associated with Risk for Lupus. Kirkland Scholars Conference. New York, NY. 2011 .
Poole BD, Clark DN, Henrie B, Sloan J, Baumann D, Heap C, Bills T, Greenhalgh KE, Read D, Bergsten S, et al. Altered IRF5 exon usage and increased expression of IRF7 targets in cells with an allele associated with risk for lupus. American Association of Immunologists 2011. San Francisco, CA. 2011 .
Poole BD, Greenhalgh K. Interactions between IRF5 and IRF7 in systematic lupus erythematous. Utah Conference on Undergraduate Research 2011. Ogden, UT. 2011 .
Sloan J, Robinson B, Bergsteb S, Poole BD. The Effect of EBI2 on B Cell Homing in EBV Infected Cells. Utah Conference on Undergraduate Research 2011. Ogden, UT. 2011 .
Hammond D, Johnson FB, Clark DN, Poole BD. Characterization of Herpes Simplex Virus Clinical Isolate Y3369. American Society for Microbiology Intermountain Branch Meeting 2010. Provo, UT. 2010 .
Clark DN, Henrie B, Poole BD. Loss of regulation in the Epstein Barr virus gene LMP1 by an IRF5 allele associated with risk for lupus. American Society for Microbiology Intermountain Branch Meeting 2010. Provo, UT. 2010 .
