Contact
Mentor
Dr. Neal DeLuca
Education
PhD in Molecular Virology and Microbiology, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, 2010
BS in Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Tufts University, 2002
Why I chose Pitt
I chose the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Interdisciplinary Biomedical Graduate Program for a number of reasons. Pitt is one of the top-funded schools by the NIH, and is part of a large, world-class medical center. The professors are first class and publish their research in the top journals in the world. In addition, the Interdisciplinary program allows students who are interested in biomedical science but don't know their exact field of choice to explore a number of options for specialization in their first year of study.
Following his graduation, MIchael was offered a job as a post-doctoral researcher in the Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Neuroscience in the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke at the NIH in Bethesda, MD. Their work focuses on JC virus, which causes the brain demyelinating disease Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy.
Abstracts
Michael W. Ferenczy, Leslie J. Marshall, and Eugene O. Major. "Quiescent JCV in human neural progenitor cells is activated during lineage differentiation to astrocytes." 11th International Symposium on Neurovirology. New York, NY. (2012)
Michael W. Ferenczy, Shannon Steinberg, Leslie J. Marshall, Peter Jensen and Eugene O. Major. "Clonal immortalized human glial cell lines support varying levels of JCV infection." 11th International Symposium on Neurovirology. New York, NY. (2012)
Michael W. Ferenczy and Neal A. DeLuca. "Epigenetic modulation of gene expression from quiescent HSV genomes." 33rd International Herpes Workshop. Estoril, Portugal. (2008)
Ted M. Ross, Sean P. McBurney, Michael W. Ferenczy, Throbjorg Einarsdottir, and Kelly R. Young. "Elicitation of Mucosal Immunity by Intranasal Administration of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-like Particles." American Society for Virology Conference, State College, PA, USA. (2005)
Publications
Molecular biology, epidemiology, and pathogenesis of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, the JC virus-induced demyelinating disease of the human brain. Clin Microbiol Rev. 25: 471-506. | View Abstract
Ferenczy M. W, Ranayhossaini D. J, and Deluca N. A. Activities of ICP0 involved in the reversal of silencing of quiescent herpes simplex virus 1. J Virol. 85: 4993-5002. | View Abstract
Ferenczy M. W, and DeLuca N. A. Reversal of heterochromatic silencing of quiescent herpes simplex virus type 1 by ICP0. J Virol. 85: 3424-3435. | View Abstract
Epigenetic modulation of gene expression from quiescent herpes simplex virus genomes. J Virol. 83: 8514-8524. | View Abstract
Prophylactic vaccine strategies and the potential of therapeutic vaccines against herpes simplex virus. Curr Pharm Des. 13: 1975-1988. | View Abstract