Biography

Websites:
Website
Research with Rowan

Education:
Post-Doctoral Associate, University of Pennsylvania and Wistar Institute
Ph.D., Biology, University of Lausanne
B.S., Biology, University of Lausanne

Research Expertise:
Virology | Cell Biology | Vaccines

My lab studies the interactions between viruses and cells with a particular focus on the process of viral entry. To identify new therapeutic targets, we use molecular and cellular approaches to understand the early host-virus interactions and responses to infection. On the virus side, we study the mechanism by which herpes simplex virus (HSV) binds to cellular receptors in order to design specific inhibitors of virus entry. We also evaluate antiviral properties of natural peptides against a broader spectrum of herpesviruses and coronaviruses that infect humans or animals. On the cellular side, we study the role of HSV receptors from the nectin family in the immune response to viruses and tumor cells, as potential actors in cancer virotherapy and immunotherapy.

Teaching Narrative:
At Rowan, I have taught introductory and advanced classes to Biology majors, as well as to non-biology majors in related biomedical programs. I teach introductory courses in genetics (FBBSI: Foundations in Biology for Biomedical Sciences I) and cell biology (FBBSII). I also teach elective upper-level courses in virology (Introduction to Virology) and infectious agents (General Aspects of Infectious Agents). I have also developed a writing-intensive Special Topics class on vaccines (Vaccines Against Viruses). At the graduate level, I teach a course on Infectious Agents.

Honors and Awards:
Frances R Lax Award for Faculty Development at Rowan University, 2015

Professional Memberships:
American Society for Microbiology 
American Association for the Advancement of Science 
American Society for Virology 
Mid-Atlantic Pharmacological Society
MicroNet 

Selected Publications:
Bhargava, A.K., P.W. Rothlauf and C. Krummenacher. 2016. Herpes simplex virus glycoprotein D relocates nectin-1 from intercellular contacts. Virology, 499:267-277. DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2016.09.019

Holmes V.M., C. Maluquer de Motes, P.T. Richards, J. Roldan, A.K. Bhargava, J.S. Orange and C. Krummenacher. 2019. Interaction between nectin-1 and the human natural killer cell receptor CD96. PLOS One, 14(2):e0212443. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0212443

Zuo Y., J.C. Whitbeck, G.J. Haila, A.A. Hakim, P.W. Rothlauf, R.J. Eisenberg, G.H. Cohen and C. Krummenacher. 2019. Saliva enhances infection of gingival fibroblasts by herpes simplex virus 1. PLOS One 14(10):e0223299. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0223299

Zhong L., W. Zhang, H. Liu, X. Zhang, Z. Yang, Z. Wen, L. Chen, H. Chen, Y. Luo, Y. Chen, Q. Feng, M.-S. Zeng, Q. Zhao, L. Liu, C. Krummenacher, Y.-X. Zeng, Y. Chen, M. Xu, X. Zhang. 2024. A cocktail nanovaccine targeting key entry glycoproteins elicits high neutralizing antibody levels against EBV infection. Nat. Commun. 15(1):5310. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49546-w

Zhong L., C. Krummenacher, W. Zhang, J. Hong, Q. Feng, Q. Jiao, Y. Chen, M.-S. Zeng, Y.-X. Zeng, M. Xu, X. Zhang. 2022. Urgency and necessity of Epstein-Barr virus prophylactic vaccines. npj Vaccines 7:159. DOI: 10.1038/s41541-022-00587-6