Rona Scott Lab - LSU Health Shreveport

News

Latest News

2019 - Rona S. Scott, PhD, has been appointed the Mingyu Ding Memorial Endowed Professorship in Microbiology. This is the only Basic Science Endowed Professorship. Dr. Scott has direct ties to Dr. Mingyu Ding, who she trained as an incoming graduate student and mentored him while still working in Dr. Sixbey’s laboratory. Dr. Scott is a leader in the study of epigenetic imprints by transient infection with the DNA tumor virus EBV. She is also investigating the synergy of EBV with another tumor virus, HPV16, in the development of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. She is nationally and internationally well-recognized and, as a consequence, is well funded by extramural grants. She is the Director of the Genomics Core, which is housed in the Research Core Facility. She has been instrumental in establishing this core facility and the associated data processing and analysis. This core has been established as part of the NIH-funded Center for Molecular and Tumor Virology, and has received significant funding for the set up and operation. This resource has become an essential component of LSU Health Shreveport and is being used by researchers across the institution and externally.

Research

Major Research Interests

Mechanisms for Epstein-Barr virus-mediated tumor progression Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a prevalent herpesvirus that infects greater than 95% of the world’s adult population, usually without consequence. However, in some cases, the virus is associated with the development of lymphoid and epithelial malignancies. The long-term goal of our laboratory is to delineate mechanisms by which EBV mediates tumor progression. Two major areas are currently being investigated. The first research area involves understanding how epigenetic alterations on the virus and host genome that contribute to tumorigenesis. The second area involves understanding interactions between Epstein-Barr virus and human papillomavirus in oral cancer.

Publications

Selected Publications

Schaal DL, Amucheazi AA, Jones SC, Nkadi EH, Scott RS. 2024. Epstein-Barr virus replication within differentiated epithelia requires pRb sequestration of activator E2F transcription factors. J Virol. 98(10):e0099524. doi: 10.1128/jvi.00995-24. PMCID: PMC11494884
Ward BJH, Prasai KJ, Schaal DL, Wang J, Scott RS. 2023. A distinct isoform of lymphoid enhancer binding factor 1 (LEF1) epigenetically restricts EBV reactivation to maintain viral latency. Plos Pathog. 19(12):e1011873. PMCID: PMC10763950
Myers JE, Schaal DL, Nkadi EH, Ward BJH, Bienkowska-Haba M, Sapp M, Bodily JM, Scott RS. 2023. Retinoblastoma Protein Is Required for Epstein-Barr Virus Replication in Differentiated Epithelia. J Virol. 97(2):e0103222. PMCID: PMC9972952.
Ward BJH, Schaal DL, Nkadi EH, Scott RS. 2022. EBV Association with Lymphomas and Carcinomas in the Oral Compartment. Viruses. Review. PubMed PMID: 36560704; PMCID: PMC9783324.
Myers JE, Zwolinska K, Sapp MJ, Scott RS. An Exonuclease V-qPCR Assay to Analyze the State of the Human Papillomavirus 16 Genome in Cell Lines and Tissues. 2020. Curr Protoc Microbiol. 59(1):e119. doi: 10.1002/cpmc.119. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9508936.
Myers JE, Guidry JT, Scott ML, Zwolinska K, Raikhy G, Prasai K, Bienkowska-Haba M, Bodily JM, Sapp MJ, Scott RS. 2019. Detecting episomal or integrated human papillomavirus 16 DNA using an exonuclease V-qPCR-based assay. Virology. 537:149-156. PMCID: PMC6901724
Guidry JT, Myers JE, Bienkowska-Haba M, Songock WK, Ma X, Shi M, Nathan CO, Bodily JM, Sapp MJ, Scott RS. 2019. Inhibition of Epstein-Barr virus replication in human papillomavirus-immortalized keratinocytes. J Virol 93 (2): e01216-18. PMCID: PMC5833277
Guidry JT, Birdwell CE, Scott RS. 2018. Epstein-Barr virus in the pathogenesis of oral cancers. Oral Dis 24(4):497-508. PMCID: PMC5554094
Birdwell CE, Prasai K, Dykes S, Jia Y, Munroe TGC, Bienkowska-Haba M, Scott RS. 2018. Epstein-Barr virus stably confers an invasive phenotype to epithelial cells through reprogramming of the WNT pathway. Oncotarget 9(12): 10417–10435. PMCID: PMC5828208
Scott RS. 2017. Epigenetic changes upon EBV infection. Curr Opion Virol 26:74-80. PMCID: PMC5742862
Guidry JT, Scott RS. 2017. The interaction between human papillomavirus and other viruses. Virus Res 2017 231:139-147. PMCID: PMC5325789
Jiang R, Ekshyyan O, Moore-Medlin T, Rong X, Nathan S, Gu X, Abreo F, Rosenthal EL, Shi M, Guidry JT, Scott RS, Hutt-Fletcher LM, Nathan CO. 2015. Association between HPV/EBV co-infection and oral carcinogenesis. J Oral Pathol Med 44(1):28-36. PMCID: PMC4286485
Birdwell CE, Queen KJ, Rollyson P, Kilgore P, Trutschl M, Cvek U, Scott RS. 2014. Genomewide DNA methylation as an epigenetic consequence of Epstein-Barr virus infection of immortalized keratinocytes. J Virol 88(19):11442-58. PMCID: PMC4178815
Queen KJ, Shi M, Zhang F, Cvek U, Scott RS. 2013. Epstein–Barr virus-induced epigenetic alterations following transient infection. Int J Cancer 132(9):2076-86. PMCID: PMC3578144

A complete list of publications linked here.

Team

Young man with dark complexion, short black hair, smiling, wearing a lab coat over yellow shirt

Ebubechukwu H. Nkadi
B.Sc., Obafemi Awolowo University 2019
Research:
Epstein-Barr virus infections are observed in a subset of HPV+ squamous cell carcinomas. Previous studies in the lab have shown that HPV-induced loss of retinoblastoma protein (pRb) inhibits EBV replication and immediate early gene expression (IE) in differentiated epithelial cells. I intend to investigate how the loss of pRb impairs the functions of EBV IE transactivation factors, Zta and Rta, to inhibit the lytic replication of EBV and early gene expression.

Young woman with fair complexion, long auburn hair, smiling, wearing a doctor's coat

Natalie Dubose
MS 2, LSUHS
Research: Transcriptional profiling of viral and host gene expression in EBV/HPV co-infected cell lines

Young woman with fair complexion, long blonde hair, wearing a red blouse

Isabel Lawrence
Undergraduate, LSU Baton Rouge

Positions

Available Positions

Postdocs: We are not actively recruiting postdoctoral fellows, but qualified candidates will be considered. Inquiries should be directed to Dr. Scott.

Graduate students: Students interested in working in our Department should visit our Graduate Program website.

Undergraduate students: Our Undergraduate Biomedical Research Fellowship program provides bright undergraduates a chance to gain hands-on research experience through a paid internship. Learn more about our Undergraduate Fellowship.

contact

Lab Alumni

Graduate Students

A woman with glasses and a white lab coat smiles in front of a dark, mottled background.

Danielle L. Schaal
B.S., Biology, Ouachita Baptist University, 2019
Ph.D., Microbiology and Immunology, LSU Health Shreveport, 2024
Deciphering the Role of Host Tumor Suppressor Proteins pRb and p53 in Epstein-Barr Virus Epithelial Replication
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, Marion University, Fond Du Lac, WI

Billy H. Ward, Jr.
B.S. (2007), M.S. (2016), Mississippi State University
Ph.D., Microbiology and Immunology, LSU Health Shreveport, 2023
The Role of Host Transcription Factor LEF1 in the Epstein-Barr Virus Lifecycle
Current Position: Research Biologist, BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Birmingham, AL

A woman with glasses and a white lab coat smiles in the foreground against a mottled gray background.

Julia E. Myers
B.S., Biology, University of Central Arkansas, 2016
Ph.D., Microbiology and Immunology, LSU Health Shreveport, 2022
Loss of Retinoblastoma Protein Inhibits Epstein-Barr Virus Replication in the Differentiated Epithelia
Current position: Grant Writing Consultant, Office of Research and Technology Management, Case Western Reserve, Cleveland, OH

A young woman in a white lab coat smiles at the camera against a mottled gray background.

Geetika Sruti Vutukuri Amaranth
M.S., Biomedical Engineering, Louisiana Tech University, 2016
M.S., Microbiology and Immunology, LSU Health Shreveport, 2019
Understanding the Epigenetic Landscape of Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) Infected Cells
Current position: PhD Student, BioMedical Engineering, LA Tech, Ruston, LA

Man with fair complexion, short brown hair, serious expression, wearing a lab coat over blue shirt and striped tie

Joseph Tod Guidry
B.S. McNeese State University, 2012
Ph.D. Microbiology and Immunology, LSU Health Shreveport, 2018
Investigation of Epstein-Barr Virus /Human Papillomavirus Epithelial Co-Infection
2019 American Association for Cancer Research Science Policy Fellow
Current position: Associate Director of Regulatory and Diagnostics, LUNGevity Foundation, Bethesda, MD

Woman with fair complexion, long auburn hair, wearing glasses and green blouse

Christine E. Birdwell
B.A., University of North Texas
Ph.D., Microbiology and Immunology, LSU Health Shreveport, 2016
Functional Consequences of Epstein-Barr Virus Epigenetic Reprogramming of Epithelial Cells
Current position: Research Scientist MD Anderson, Houston, Texas

Woman with fair complexion, short blonde hair, smiling, wearing a rose colored tshirt

Tawsha Munroe
B.S., University of Tampa, 2014
M.S., Microbiology and Immunology, LSU Health Shreveport, 2017
Extracellular Matrix Enhancement of Epstein-Barr virus Infectivity
Current Position: Medical Laboratory Scientist, Oklahoma City, OK

Woman with fair complexion, short brown hair, smiling, wearing a grey sweater and white blouse, standing by a tree

Samantha S. Dykes
B.S., Sul Ross State University, 2009
Ph.D., Microbiology and Immunology, LSU Health Sciences Center-Shreveport, 2016
Defining the Role of ADP-Ribosylation Factor-Like Protein 8b and Lysosome Trafficking in Tumor Cell Invasion
Current Position: Senior Scientist, BBG Advanced Therapies, San Antonio, TX

Krista Queen, PhD is fair complexion with blonde hair, smiling, wearing glasses and floral shirt under dark coat

Krista J. Queen
B.S., Louisiana State University Shreveport, 2006
Ph.D., Microbiology and Immunology, LSU Health Sciences Center-Shreveport, 2012
Epigenetic Alterations Induced by Transient Epstein-Barr Virus Infection
Current Position: Executive Director of Regulatory Affairs, LSUHS, Shreveport, LA

Post Doctoral Fellows and Staff Scientists

Man with light complexion, short black hair, beard, moustache, wearing glasses and a grey suit with red tie

Kanchanjunga Prasai, PhD
Post-Doctoral Fellow, 2017-2019
Ph.D., Louisiana State University Health Shreveport, 2017
Role of Lymphoid Enhancer Factor 1 (LEF1) in Epstein-Barr Virus Latency
Current Position: Visiting Faculty, Kathmandu University, Nepal

Woman with olive complexion, long black hair, smiling, wearing a green blouse

Yali Jia, M.S.
Research Associate, 2012-2018
Current Position: Realtor Estate Investor, Shreveport, LA

Woman with olive complexion, short black hair, smiling, wearing a spotted blouse

Mingxia Shi, MD
Research Associate, Resident Fellow, 2004-2015
Epstein-Barr Virus-induced Epigenetic Reprogramming in Epithelial Cells
Current Position: Ameripath, Dallas, TX

Woman with fair complexion, long brown hair, wearing a black blazer over white shirt

FangFang Zhang, PhD
Post-Doctoral Fellow, 2008-2011
Persistence of a P3HR1-Derived Heterogeneous EBV DNA in the Absence of Parental Virus in Epithelial Cells
Current Position: Assistant Professor, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China