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 everyone 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 focusing 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 people who are at high risk for lupus, and early indicators that autoimmunity is developing. Early intervention in the disease has shown promise in slowing its effects.
Honors and Awards
Phi Kappa Phi Election, Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society
(2018 - Present)
Alcuin Fellow, BYU Honors
(2017 - 2019)
College Outstanding Teaching Award, College of Life Sciences
(2018 - 2018)
Research Recognition Award, Lupus Foundation of America-Utah Chapter
(2017 - 2017)
Grant Proposal Reviewer, External, Fulbright Organization (2019 - Present)
Committee/Council Chair, Lupus Foundation of America, Utah Chapter (2016 - 2019)
Grant Proposal Reviewer, External, CDRPM/Department of Defense (2019 - 2019)
Courses Taught
Publications
Kendall PogueJamie L JensenCarter K. StancilDaniel G. FergusonSavannah J. HughesEmily J. MelloRyan BurgessBradford K BergesAbraham QuayeBrian Douglas PooleBenjamin Walter AbbottJohn M ChastonJonas BushChantel D SloanBrian Douglas PooleMitchell GreenhalghS. Isaac St. ClairHaley MoonJacob E GudmundsenSarah GottfredsonIsabella M. ErrigoSkyler LemmonDeborah K. JohnsonEmily J. MelloTrent D. WalkerSpencer J. HoodJamie L JensenBrian Douglas PooleMargarida Figueiredo-BragaCaleb CornabyAlice CortezMiguel BernardesGeorgina TerrosoMarta FigueiredoCristina MesquitaLucia CostaBrian Douglas PooleMargarida Figueiredo-BragaCaleb CornabyAlice CortezMiguel BernardesGeorgina TerrosoMarta FigueiredoCristina MesquitaLucia CostaBrian Douglas PooleMargarida Figueiredo-BragaCaleb CornabyMario BernardesMarta FigueiredoCristina MesquitaLucia CostaBrian Douglas PooleCaleb CornabyJilian L. JafekCameron BirrellVera MayhewLauren SyndergaardJeffrey MellaWesley CheneyBrian Douglas PooleCaleb CornabyAnne TannerEric W StutzBrian Douglas PooleBradford K BergesCaleb CornabyLauren GibbonsVera MayhewChad S. SloanAndrew WellingBrian Douglas PooleDaniel N. ClarkR. Daniel ReadVera MayhewStephen C. PetersenLance A. StutzLissenya B. ArguetaRodney E. TillSean M. BergstenBrandon S. RobinsonDouglas G. BaumannJ. Casey HeapBrian Douglas PooleDaniel N. ClarkR. D. ReadVera MayhewStephen C. PetersenLissenya B. ArguetaLance A. StutzRodney E. TillSean M. BergstenBrandon S. RobinsonDouglas G. BaumannJ. C. HeapBrian Douglas PooleDaniel N. ClarkJillian L. MarkhamChad S. SloanBrian Douglas PooleBrian Douglas PooleTimothy NeiwoldGeorge TsokosDaniel N ClarkBrian Douglas PooleJoel GuthridgeDaniel N. ClarkAmanda TempletonNicolas DominguezRufei LuGabriel VidalJennifer A. KelleyKenneth KauffmanJohn B. HarleyPatrick GaffneyJudith A. JamesBrian Douglas PooleDaniel N. ClarkBrian Douglas PooleTyler J. HedmanDaniel V. HammondDaniel S. CattsAmanda StewartF Brent JohnsonBrian Douglas PooleTimothy B. NiewoldGeorge C. TsokosCharles S. Via
Presentations
Brian Douglas Poole
Brian Douglas Poole
Brian Douglas PooleDeborah K JohnsonKaylia M. ReynoldsVera M ToddApril BarnadoMary Feller Davis
Brian Douglas PooleMargarida Figueiredo-Braga
Brian Douglas PooleMargarida Figeuredo-Braga
Abraham QuayeBrandon OrdKJ VanderWerffBrian Douglas Poole
Brian Douglas PooleLaura J. WesthoffErin GillSavannah HughesTrent Walker
Brian Douglas PooleCaleb CornabyMargarida Figueredo-Braga
Emily MelloDeborah K JohnsonTrent WalkerSpencer HoodJamie L JensenBrian Douglas Poole
Kala HarbaughMargarida Figueredo-BragaCaleb CornabyBrian Douglas Poole
Brian Douglas Poole
Brian Douglas PooleMargarida Figueiredo-Braga
Brian Douglas Poole
Brian Douglas PooleCaleb CornabyKalare EbertingWesley CheneyGrant WalkerCraig SmithTosh DowlingEmily Mello
Brian Douglas Poole
Brian Douglas Poole
Brian Douglas PooleCaleb CornabyCameron Birell
Jeffrey MellaChad SloanDaneil ClarkBrian Douglas Poole
Rodney TillDaniel ClarkBrian Douglas Poole
Daniel CattsJared LambertLissenyi ArguetaMay PhamTrieste BillsBrian Douglas Poole
Lissenyi ArguetaJared LambertBrian Douglas Poole
Richard ReadBrian Douglas Poole
Brian Douglas PooleRodney Till
Daniel N. ClarkBrian Douglas Poole
Brian Douglas PooleDaniel N. ClarkBrandon HenrieJason SloanDouglas BaumannCasey HeapTrieste BillsKathryn E. GreenhalghDaniel ReadSean BergstenMarinya Roznick
Daniel ReadJared LambertBrandon HenrieJason SloanDoug BaumannCasey HeapSean BergstenBrian NaylorDaniel N. ClarkTrieste BillsBrian Douglas Poole
Danny S. CattsTyler J. HedmanDaniel N. ClarkBrian Douglas PooleDaniel V. HammondBrian D. PooleF Brent Johnson
Brian Douglas PooleKathryn Greenhalgh
Jason SloanBrandon RobinsonSean BergstebBrian Douglas Poole
Daniel HammondF Brent JohnsonDaniel N. ClarkBrian Douglas Poole
Daniel N. ClarkBrandon HenrieBrian Douglas Poole
Brian Douglas PooleAmanda TempletonG. Lu R. VidalJ. LevinA. SestakJ. KellyK. KauffmanG. BrunerP. GaffneyJ. HarleyJ. JamesJ. Guthridge
Brian Douglas Poole
Brian Douglas PooleAmanda TempletonN. DominguezR. LuG. S. VidalJ. LevinA. S. SestakJ. A. KellyK. M. KaufmanG. R. BrunerP. M. GaffneyJ. B. HarleyJ. A. JamesJ. M. Guthridge