VMRCVM - DBSP Faculty - Dr. Roger J. Avery

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DBSP Faculty

Roger J. Avery, PhD

Senior Associate Dean, Research & Graduate Studies
Professor, Virology

e-mail: avery@vt.edu
Capsule Biography (PDF)

Education

1969	Ph.D., Biochemistry/Microbiology University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
1966	First Class Honors Degree in Biochemistry University of Leeds, UK

Research Interests & Experience

During my undergraduate training in biochemistry, I developed an interest in both nucleic acids and viruses with the result that molecular virology became the central theme of my subsequent research work.
Initially, I investigated bacterial ribosomal ribonucleic acids with particular reference to the genes for their synthesis.
Subsequently, I studied the DNAs of the T-even bacteriophages while a fellow at the Carnegie Institution. During my fellowship I gained experience in the technique of molecular hybridization, an extremely powerful tool for the investigation of nucleic acids.
My early work in the Virus Research Group at Warwick was on the replication and transcription of the RNA genome of influenza virus. For this purpose, I developed an assay for RNA:RNA hybridization. During the course of my work at Warwick, I also studied phages, amphibian viruses, insect viruses, fowl pest virus, infectious bronchitis virus and interferon.
In 1976, I began working on the Kirsten sarcoma/leukemia virus complex (KiMSV/KiMLV). My aim was to analyze the mechanism by which these viruses transform cells, and so provide a completely understood model system of virus induced neoplasia. My group’s approach was at the molecular level. However, initially we isolated a series of clonally related cells that differ only in their response to infection by virus. All these cells contain integrated DNA copies of the virus genome. We analyzed the position of integration of these copies at the nucleotide sequence level. In addition, we examined the virus specified proteins and RNAs in the infected cells. A comparison between several revertant clones and their transformed progenitors has been of particular interest.

We also identified a putative retrovirus in Drosphila Melanogaster cells. This was the first observation of this type of virus in invertebrate cells and has implications for the use of insect virus preparations as biological insecticides. It also raised questions concerning the relationship between retroviruses and other movable genetic elements.

In addition, we used recombinant DNA techniques to clone DNA copies of the KiMSV and KiMLV genomes, and Kras oncogene. This allowed us to use DNA sequencing to investigate the detailed organization of these virus genomes. In particular, we studied the sequences involved in the recombinational event between KiMLV and rat cell DNA, which produced KiMSV. The cloned DNAs are also useful as clean probes for further hybridization studies.

In a related study, we used a novel approach to clone, and subsequently analyze, the transcriptionally active members of a family of retrovirus like elements (VL30s) present in the mouse genome.
My work at Montana State University involved the use of recombinant DNA techniques to investigate a number of viruses which infect livestock.
At the Institute for Animal Health, I initiated projects designed to provide diagnostic reagents for infectious laryngotracheitis virus and (ultimately) novel vaccines against infectious bursal disease and newcastle disease viruses.
My laboratory at Cornell concentrated on investigating retroviruses, especially the lentiviruses feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and ovine progressive pheumonia virus (OPPV). Besides causing diseases of veterinary importance in the cat and sheep respectively, these viruses also represent potential models for human immunodeficiency virus, the causative agent of AIDS. We investigated the interaction of these viruses with cells and the molecular basis of the consequent pathogenesis.

Patent Awarded

Novel Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) Nucleotide Sequence (6,284,253)

Professional Experience

2005-present	Senior Associate Dean Research and Graduate Studies Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA, USA
2002	Interim Vice Provost for Graduate Studies and Dean Graduate School, Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA, USA
1999-2005	Senior Associate Dean Graduate School, Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA, USA
1986-1999	Chairman and Professor of Virology Department of Microbiology and Immunology College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University Ithaca, New York, USA
1984-1986	Head of Department of Microbiology,br> Institute for Animal Health, Houghton Laboratory Houghton, Cambridgeshire, UK
1983-1984	Professor of Virology & Director of Virology Section Department of Veterinary Molecular Biology Adjunct Professor of Microbiology Department of Microbiology Montana State University Bozeman, Montana, USA
1980-1982	Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Biological Sciences University of Warwick Coventry, UK
1978	Visiting Fellow Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Foundation Inc. Torrey Pines Research Center San Diego, California, USA
1975	Visiting Medical Research Council Fellow in Cancer Studies University of California Medical Center San Francisco, California, USA
1971-1980	Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Biological Sciences University of Warwick Coventry, UK
1969-1971	Postdoctoral Research Fellow of the Carnegie Institution Washington, D.C., USA

Professional Memberships

Society for General Microbiology
Biochemical Society
European Tumor Virus Group
Veterinary Research Club
Conference of Research Workers in Animal Disease
American Society for Virology
American Association for the Advancement of Science
Gamma Sigma Delta (Honor Society of Agriculture)
Phi Zeta (Veterinary Honor Society)

Selected Publications

T. Paul, J. Casey, R.J.Avery, and C. Sutton. Expression of feline immunodeficiency virus Vif is associated with reduced viral mutation rates without restoration of Replication of Vif mutant viruses. Virology. 361, 112 (2007)
J. Casey, C. Sutton, P. Gordinier, R. J. Avery. Comparative Replication Kinetics of Two Cytopathic Feline Lentiviruses ex vivo. Virology. 332, 519 (2005)
L. Zou, M.C. Barr, W.A. Hoose and R.J. Avery. Characterization of the Transcription Map and Rev Activity of a Highly Cytopathic Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. Virology. 236, 266 (1997)
M.C. Barr, L. Zou, F. Long, W.A. Hoose and R.J. Avery. Proviral organization and sequence analysis of feline immunodeficiency virus isolated from a Pallas’ Cat. Virology. 228, 84 (1997).
B.J. Campbell and R.J. Avery. Sequence Analysis and Transcriptional Activity of the Long Terminal Repeat of OLV-CU1, a North American Ovine Lentivirus. J. Gen. Virol. 77, 2999 (1996).
B.J. Cooper, N.J. Winand, H. Stedman, B.A. Valentine, E.P. Hoffman, L.M. Kunkel, M.O. Scott, K.H. Fischbeck, J.N. Kornegay, R.J. Avery, J.R. Williams, R.D. Schmickel and J.E. Sylvester. The Homologue of the Duchenne Locus is Defective in X-linked Muscular Dystrophy of Dogs. Nature. 334, 154 (1988).
R.J. Avery, J.D. Norton, J.S. Jones, D.C. Burke and A.G. Morris. Interferon Inhibits Transformation by Murine Sarcoma Viruses Before Integration of Provirus. Nature. 288, 93 (1980).