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About the Lab

Sara Cherry, PhD

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Microbiota-dependent priming of antiviral intestinal immunity in Drosophila
Screening Bioactives Reveals Nanchangmyvin as a Braod Spectrum Antiviral Active Against Zika Virus
Flavivirus internalization is regulated by a size-dependent endocytic pathway
Inflammation-Induced, STING-Dependent Autophagy Restricts Zika Virus Infection in the Drosophila Brain
Indentification of antiviral roles for the exonjunction complex and nonsense-medicated decay in flaviviral infection
Sirtuin Inhibators Are Broadly Antiviral against Arboviruses

As a part of the University of Pennsylvania’s Microbiology Department, the Cherry Lab is interested in genetic and mechanistic studies of viral-host interactions. The Lab performs a wide array of cell-based screens in insect and human cells using emerging arboviruses, including chikungunya and zika virus.Our team also studies intestinal infection in Drosophila, where the role of the microbiota in protection from enteric arboviral infections is dissected. Projects include understanding how dysbiosis impacts susceptibility and discovering the bacterial products that impact infection.Human cells are used to dissect the mechanisms involved in viral RNA recognition and RNA decay, and the mechanisms by which nutrient signaling and autophagy impact viral infection. Our students are encouraged to explore additional projects in the areas of viral-host interactions and innate immunity.

NEWS
Septemb
2019		                                                                                                                                                                                                 
Septemb
2019		 We welcome Sheil Desai as a new undergraduate researcher in the lab!                                                                                                                                                                                  
Septemb
2019		 We welcome Annabel Ferguson as a new rotation student in the lab!                                                                                                                                                                            
   August
2019		  Congratulations to Graduate Student, Elisha Segrist who was recently awarded an F31 grant by the NIH!                                                                                                                                                                    
August
2019		 Congratulations to Technician Billy Truong who will be moving onto a PhD program at Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University at the end of August!                                                                                                                                                  
July
2019		 Members of the Cherry Lab recently had their paper published, “Sirtuin Inhibitors Are Broadly Antiviral against Aroboviruses.” To read this paper, please click on the on the tab listed under “publications.”                                                                                                                                                       
June
2019		 Congratulations to Post-Doc, Yuan Liu who has received a full-time Academic job position in China!                                                                                                                                   
May
2019		 We welcome Nikhil Gangoli as a new undergraduate researcher in the lab!                                                                                                                                                                                          
May
2019		 We welcome Anna-Louisa de Somma as a new undergraduate researcher in the lab!                                                                                                                                                                                  
March
2019

Members of the Cherry Lab had the following paper published in March,”Identification of antiviral roles for the exon-junction complex and nonsense-mediated decay in flaviviral infection.” To read this paper, please click on the tab listed under “publications.”