Lab Info

Dr. Rothman’s laboratory at URI studies viral and immune mechanisms involved in infection by dengue virus (DENV). The laboratory examines DENV replication and protein expression, the effects of DENV infection on host cell gene expression and function, and the specificity and functions of DENV-specific antibodies and T lymphocytes. Mammalian and insect cell cultures, including primary human T lymphocytes and dendritic cells, are the principal experimental systems being used. Through its extensive international collaborations, the laboratory studies specimens from humans exposed to wild-type DENV and vaccines. The methods employed include quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blotting, fluorescence microscopy, ELISA, ELISPOT, and flow cytometry. Advanced microfluidics and next-generation sequencing methods are being explored for detailed analyses down to the level of individual cells.