Members of the Flemington, Renne, and Tibbetts labs co-authored a paper on circular RNAs entitled, "Comparative analysis of gammaherpesvirus circRNA repertoires: conserved and unique viral circRNAs". Despite the importance of non-coding RNAs in persistent infection, the circRNA class of non-coding RNAs has only recently been identified in gammaherpesviruses. Accordingly, their roles in virus infection and associated oncogenesis are unknown. Here we report evolutionary conservation of EBV encoded circRNAs by assessing the circRNAome in rLCV infected lymphomas from an SIV infected rhesus macaque and we report latent and lytic circRNAs from KSHV and MHV68. These experiments demonstrate utilization of the circular RNA class of RNAs across 4 members of the gammaherpesvirus subfamily and they identify orthologs and potential homoplastic circRNAs, implying conserved circRNA functions in virus biology and associated malignancies.

To read the full publication, click here. 

Congratulations to Jackie Serfecz on the completion of her PhD! Dr. Renne was happy to escort Jackie at her graduation ceremony, but we will all be sad to see her go! Jackie and her fiancee will be relocating to Maryland. 

We celebrated earlier that week with a lab lunch downtown. We wish Jackie the best in her new journey!

The first P01 Project retreat and EAB meeting were held April 24-25 at the beautiful Austin Cary Forest Campus in Gainesville, FL. The Renne, Tibbetts, and Flemington labs attended, as well as our distinguished EAB members: Britt Glaunsinger, PhD, UC Berkeley; Eric Johannsen, MD, University of Wisconsin; and Charles Rice, PhD, The Rockefeller University. 

Project and Core leaders, as well as lab trainees, presented their work to highlight the progress made in the first year, and discussed plans for the next grant year. The EAB members were very complimentary of the project's progress, and offered excellent advice for the future of the P01.

Thank you to everyone who attended or assisted with the retreat! 

Check out this great photo compilation prepared by Pete Turner: 

This past Friday, the University of Florida Cancer Center hosted the first annual Cancer Research Showcase in the Cancer Genetics Research Complex. Dr. Renne and Dorci Nance planned the event, which brought 9 outstanding K99 awardees to UF to present their work and learn about faculty opportunities here in Gainesville. Renne Lab members assisted with the registration desk, took photos of the event, and attended invitee and UF faculty presentations.