MCWMedical College of Wisconsin · Microbiology & Immunology
Tarakanova Immunology Lab
Vera L. Tarakanova · Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Research Focus
Dr. Vera L. Tarakanova's lab focuses on understanding how gammaherpesviruses manipulate host immune responses for their own benefit during chronic infections. They study a specific viral protein kinase that is important for the virus's ability to persist in the body and contribute to B cell lymphomas. By exploring the mechanisms of this viral protein, the lab aims to identify potential new therapies to prevent or treat related cancers, as no vaccines or effective antiviral treatments currently exist.
gammaherpesviruschronic infectionB cell lymphomaviral protein kinaseimmune evasion
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate how gammaherpesvirus protein kinases support chronic infection.
AIM 02Define the role of viral proteins in the modulation of host immune responses.
AIM 03Explore mechanisms of B cell differentiation driven by viral infection.
AIM 04Identify therapeutic targets to prevent gammaherpesvirus-driven lymphomas.
AIM 05Develop a better understanding of viral pathogenesis in human health.
Skills the Lab Values
cell cultureanimal modelsmolecular biology techniquesWestern blotPCRflow cytometryviral infection assaysgenetic manipulationsignal transduction analysis
Output against the department
Publications81bottom 27% of dept.356th of 486
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations1.6kbottom 10% of dept.439th 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.