Bruce Lab

Bruce Lab

We are a research laboratory studying RNA viruses, within the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics (MMG) and the Translational Global Infectious Disease Research (TGIR) COBRE at the University of Vermont. 

Research Interests

We are focused on studying questions at the intersection of virology and cell biology, with a particular focus on the late stages of viral assembly and replication. Favorite viruses include SARS-CoV-2 and influenza.

Recent work includes investigating the role of mutations observed in variants of concern affecting coronavirus nucleocapsid function. We are also focused on understanding how the Rab11 pathway is utilized by influenza A and influenza B viruses, including its role in entry (of H3N2 isolates) and its role in viral genome trafficking and reassortment.

We are also interested in understanding the molecular basis of cargo specificity in cargo transport, using the Rab11 pathway and influenza as model systems. Finally, we seek to understand whether the Rab11 pathway functions as a universal ‘highway’ to transport IAV vRNPs in all species, or whether it functions as a host range determinant for zoonotic viruses infecting human cells.

News

  • H3N2 Entry Paper Published
    Allyson (center in image above) and Sara’s (left) paper describing a Rab11B dependent entry route for recent H3N2 influenza A isolates was just published in the Journal of Virology. Read more about this work as described by UVM, New Hampshire Public Radio, and VTDigger!
  • Bruce wins BWF PATH Award
    Emily was selected as one of the 2026 Investigators in the Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund for her proposal entitled “From Birds to People: Understanding the Role of Rab11 in Influenza Assembly and Reassortment”. Read more about her proposal here.
  • Congrats to Matthew
    Matthew won first place in the College round of the Three Minute Thesis Competition and went on to win the People’s Choice Award at the University level with his talk “Cellular Grand Theft Auto”, which he describes in a blog post here. The lab went out to celebrate!