Lynn W. Enquist
Encyclopedia
Lynn W. Enquist is Henry L. Hillman Professor in Molecular Biology and Professor in the Princeton Neuroscience Institute at Princeton University
. He is chair of the department of Molecular Biology.
He received his Ph.D. in Microbiology from the Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University in 1971 with S. Gaylen Bradley studying streptomyces biology. He did postdoctoral training at the Roche Institute of Molecular Biology from 1971 to 1973 studying bacteriophage lambda replication and recombination with Ann Skalka. He served in the Public Health Service from 1973-1981. He was a senior staff fellow at the National Institutes of Health
in the laboratory of Dr. Philip Leader working with Robert Weisberg from 1974-1977 studying bacteriophage lambda site-specific recombination and development of recombinant DNA technology. He accepted a tenured staff position in the National Cancer Institute
in 1977 where he continued the development of recombinant DNA technology and also began his work on neurotropic herpes viruses. In 1981 he left the National Cancer Institute to be Research Director at Molecular Genetics Incorporated in Minnetonka, Minnesota where he worked on recombinant DNA based viral vaccines. In 1984, he joined DuPont as a Research Leader where he ran a laboratory studying neurotropic viruses. In 1990, he joined DuPont Merck Pharmaceutical Company where he was a Senior Research Fellow working on developing neurotropic viruses as tools for gene therapy and studying the mammalian nervous system. In 1993, he accepted the position of tenured full professor of Molecular Biology at Princeton University. His research interests are in the field of neurovirology, specifically on the mechanisms of herpesvirus spread and pathogenesis in the mammalian nervous system. He teaches an undergraduate course in virology and won the President’s award for teaching excellence in 2001.
Dr. Enquist has published over 220 articles or books and is an inventor on four US patents. He is the current editor in chief of the Journal of Virology
, is on the editorial board of the Journal of Neurovirology
, and is a member of the editorial committee for the Annual Review of Microbiology. He is a member of the American Society for Microbiology
, American Society for Virology, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science
. He is a past President of the American Society for Virology. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology and the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences (AAAS). He currently is on the board of directors of the AAAS. He is a member of the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity
.
His laboratory focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms by which neuroinvasive alpha-herpesviruses invade and spread in the mammalian nervous system. Recent work in collaboration with David Tank, employs imaging technology (e.g., conventional confocal microscopy, two-photon laser scanning microscopy, and serial block face scanning electron microscopy) to reveal how virion components move inside and between neurons. Experiments are divided between two general areas to visualize how infection spreads from one neuron to another in vitro (dissociated neurons) and in vivo (living animals and tissues). His students have developed compartmented neuronal cultures to establish separate fluid environments for neuronal axons and the soma from which they emanate. These compartmented neuronal cultures are used for in vitro study of directional infection of neurons by alpha herpesviruses. Students also have constructed a variety of herpesvirus mutants that define mechanisms of neuronal spread and provide useful tools for tracing neuronal circuitry in living animals and uncovering mechanisms of alpha-herpesvirus pathogenesis.
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
. He is chair of the department of Molecular Biology.
He received his Ph.D. in Microbiology from the Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University in 1971 with S. Gaylen Bradley studying streptomyces biology. He did postdoctoral training at the Roche Institute of Molecular Biology from 1971 to 1973 studying bacteriophage lambda replication and recombination with Ann Skalka. He served in the Public Health Service from 1973-1981. He was a senior staff fellow at the National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation...
in the laboratory of Dr. Philip Leader working with Robert Weisberg from 1974-1977 studying bacteriophage lambda site-specific recombination and development of recombinant DNA technology. He accepted a tenured staff position in the National Cancer Institute
National Cancer Institute
The National Cancer Institute is part of the National Institutes of Health , which is one of 11 agencies that are part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The NCI coordinates the U.S...
in 1977 where he continued the development of recombinant DNA technology and also began his work on neurotropic herpes viruses. In 1981 he left the National Cancer Institute to be Research Director at Molecular Genetics Incorporated in Minnetonka, Minnesota where he worked on recombinant DNA based viral vaccines. In 1984, he joined DuPont as a Research Leader where he ran a laboratory studying neurotropic viruses. In 1990, he joined DuPont Merck Pharmaceutical Company where he was a Senior Research Fellow working on developing neurotropic viruses as tools for gene therapy and studying the mammalian nervous system. In 1993, he accepted the position of tenured full professor of Molecular Biology at Princeton University. His research interests are in the field of neurovirology, specifically on the mechanisms of herpesvirus spread and pathogenesis in the mammalian nervous system. He teaches an undergraduate course in virology and won the President’s award for teaching excellence in 2001.
Dr. Enquist has published over 220 articles or books and is an inventor on four US patents. He is the current editor in chief of the Journal of Virology
Journal of Virology
The Journal of Virology is an academic journal that covers research concerning viruses, using cross-disciplinary approaches including biochemistry, biophysics, cell and molecular biology, genetics, immunology, morphology, physiology and pathogenesis...
, is on the editorial board of the Journal of Neurovirology
Journal of NeuroVirology
The Journal of NeuroVirology is a medical journal that publishes review articles on the molecular biology, immunology, genetics, epidemiology, and pathogenesis of CNS disorders with the goal of bridging the gap between basic and clinical studies, and enhancing translational research in...
, and is a member of the editorial committee for the Annual Review of Microbiology. He is a member of the American Society for Microbiology
American Society for Microbiology
The American Society for Microbiology is a professional organization for scientists who study viruses, bacteria, fungi, algae, and protozoa as well as other aspects of microbiology. Microbiology is the study of organisms too small to be seen with the naked eye and which must be viewed with a...
, American Society for Virology, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
. He is a past President of the American Society for Virology. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology and the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences (AAAS). He currently is on the board of directors of the AAAS. He is a member of the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity
National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity
The National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity is a panel of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. It is tasked with recommending policies on such questions as how to prevent published research in biotechnology from aiding terrorism, without slowing scientific progress...
.
His laboratory focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms by which neuroinvasive alpha-herpesviruses invade and spread in the mammalian nervous system. Recent work in collaboration with David Tank, employs imaging technology (e.g., conventional confocal microscopy, two-photon laser scanning microscopy, and serial block face scanning electron microscopy) to reveal how virion components move inside and between neurons. Experiments are divided between two general areas to visualize how infection spreads from one neuron to another in vitro (dissociated neurons) and in vivo (living animals and tissues). His students have developed compartmented neuronal cultures to establish separate fluid environments for neuronal axons and the soma from which they emanate. These compartmented neuronal cultures are used for in vitro study of directional infection of neurons by alpha herpesviruses. Students also have constructed a variety of herpesvirus mutants that define mechanisms of neuronal spread and provide useful tools for tracing neuronal circuitry in living animals and uncovering mechanisms of alpha-herpesvirus pathogenesis.