Boston University · Microbiology & ImmunologyViral Replication and Pathogenesis Lab
Rachel Fearns · Boston, Massachusetts
Research Focus
Rachel Fearns' lab focuses on understanding how viruses, particularly the human parainfluenza virus, replicate their genomes and produce RNA. They investigate the structural and molecular mechanics underlying viral transcription and replication, especially how these processes are regulated. The goal is to better understand these mechanisms to aid in the development of antiviral therapies.
viral replicationRNA synthesisparainfluenza virusviral pathogenesispolymerase regulation
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate the role of L-P complex dimerization in RNA replication.
AIM 02Analyze the influence of viral inclusion bodies on polymerase activity.
AIM 03Characterize molecular features of the HPIV-3 polymerase complex.
AIM 04Understand the balance between viral transcription and replication mechanisms.
AIM 05Develop techniques for detecting RNA species in cellular contexts.
Skills the Lab Values
RNA extractionviral transcript analysisprotein purificationelectron tomographycell culture
Output against the department
Publications99bottom 34% of dept.318th of 486
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations5.5kbottom 41% of dept.289th of 486
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.