Hans W. Heidner, Ph.D.
Professor of Virology
Office: BSB 2.03.34
Phone: (210) 458-5767
Hans.Heidner@utsa.edu
Education
| B.S. Biochemistry 1983 California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA |
| M.S. Veterinary Microbiology 1988 North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC |
| Ph.D. Microbiology 1991 University of California at Davis, Davis, CA |
Research Interests
The primary focus of my research laboratory is the design and development of alphavirus-based vaccines. Alphaviruses are small RNA viruses that are spread to humans and other vertebrates through the bites of infected mosquitoes. Several alphaviruses (e.g. Venezuelan, Eastern, and Western equine encephalitis viruses) are significant human pathogens and are classified as Category B select agents by the CDC based on a number of criteria including a history of being developed as bioweapons. Our laboratory is a member of the Western Regional Center of Excellence for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases Research (WRCE), and is collaborating with other researchers in Texas and surrounding states to develop a new generation of vaccines to this group of viruses. This strategy is based on the use of chimeric viruses that are constructed by combining genes from different parent viruses. We have shown that chimeric viruses containing the regulatory elements and nonstructural protein genes of Sindbis virus, and the structural protein genes of Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) virus, are attenuated in the vertebrate host, but induce protective immunity against VEE.
Alphaviruses possess a number of properties that support their use as vectors for expressing foreign genes of interest. Therefore, these viruses have been researched extensively for use as recombinant vaccines. We are using Sindbis virus, the prototype alphavirus, to develop and evaluate new strategies for targeting alphavirus vectors, or alphavirus-expressed antigens to immunologically relevant cell types such as dendritic cells. Dendritic cells play an important role in generating humoral and cellular immune responses to foreign antigens, and we are studying methods for targeting viruses or their expressed proteins to these cells via selected surface markers such as Fc receptors and other cell-specific receptors involved in antigen binding, uptake and presentation.
Recent Publications
Boehme, K.W., Popov, V.L., and H.W. Heidner. 2000. The host range phenotype displayed by a Sindbis virus glycoprotein variant results from virion aggregation and retention on the surface of mosquito cells. J. Virol. 74: 11398-11406.
Balasuriya, U.B.R., Heidner, H.W., Davis, N.L., Wagner, H.M., Hullinger, P.J., Hedges, J.F., Williams, J.C., Johnston, R.E., Wilson, W.D., Liu, I.K., and N.J. MacLachlan. 2001. Alphavirus replicon particles expressing the two major envelope proteins of equine arteritis virus induce high level protection against challenge with virulent virus in vaccinated horses. Vaccine 20: 1609-1617.
Thomas, J.M., Klimstra, W.B., Ryman, K.D., and H.W. Heidner. 2003. Sindbis virus vectors designed to express a foreign protein as cleavable component of the viral structural polyprotein. J. Virol. 77: 5598-5606.
Chew, D.S.H., Choi, K.P., Heidner, H., and M.Y. Leung. 2004. Palindromes in SARS and other coronaviruses. J. on Comp. 16: 331-340.
Balasuriya, U.B.R., Dobbe, J.C., Heidner, H.W., Smalley, V.L., Navarrette, A., Snijder, E.J., and N.J. MacLachlan. 2004. Characterization of the neutralization determinants of equine arteritis virus using recombinant chimeric viruses and site-specific mutagenesis of an infectious cDNA clone. Virology 321: 235-246.
Klimstra, W.B., Williams, J.C., Ryman, K.D., and H.W. Heidner. 2005. Targeting Sindbis virus-based vectors to Fc receptor-positive cell types. Virology 338: 9-21.
Balasuriyia, U.B.R., Snijder, E.J., Heidner, H.W., Zhang, J., Zevenhoven-Dobbe, J.C., Boone, J.D., McCollum, W.H., Timoney, P.J. and N.J. MacLachlan. 2007. Development and characterization of an infectious cDNA clone of the virulent Bucyrus strain of equine arteritis virus. J. Gen. Virol. 88: 918-924.