Arturo Diaz

Understanding Viral Replication Using Bio-Rad's Real-Time Quantitative PCR Instruments and Reagents

Watch this video to hear about the research focused on understanding single-stranded RNA viral replication, which may identify targets for future broad-spectrum antiviral therapies. The video also discusses how optimization of the CRISPR/Cas9 system has the potential to provide alternative antiviral therapies.

Source: SelectScience
Arturo Diaz

Arturo Diaz, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Biology

Education: 

  • Postdoctoral Fellow, Salk Institute for Biological Sciences, 2011-2014
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2009-2011
  • Ph.D., Microbiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2009
  • B.S., Molecular, Cell and Development Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, 2003

Principal Research Interests

Viruses remain serious threats to public health due to a lack of effective controls and the continuing emergence of new, highly pathogenic viruses, so the development of more effective virus controls requires better understanding of virus replication and virus-host interactions.
The main focus of my lab aims to understand the formation, structure, and organization of the RNA replication compartments of brome mosaic virus (BMV), an advanced model system to study some of the common features shared by all positive-strand RNA virus replication. Positive-strand RNA viruses are the largest genetic class of viruses and include many serious human pathogens such as hepatitis C virus, SARS, Dengue and Rhinovirus, the predominant cause of the common cold. Since viral genomes are typically 10,000 to 100,000 times smaller than the host genome, their replication requires a complex orchestration of interactions between the viral genome, viral proteins and exploited cellular host factors. Since BMV can replicate in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae our studies integrate yeast genetics, biochemistry and cellular and molelcular biology to identify and characterize the role that host factors play in the formation and function of the viral replication compartments. Gaining a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms used by viruses to replicate will allow us to rationally design interventions for more effective and diverse antiviral therapies.

Academic Interests/Research Area: 

  • Virology
  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Microbiology

E-mail: adiaz@lasierra.edu
Phone: (951) 785-2140
Price Science Complex Room 208 

AWARDS

  • National Science Foundations Grant, 2017-2020
  • Margaret T. Morris Foundation Grant, 2012-2014
  • NIH NRSA Postdoctoral Fellowship, 2009-2011
  • Carl Storm Underrepresented Minority Fellowship, 2011
  • Advancement Opportunity Fellowship, UW-Madison, 2006-2008
  • NIH Predoctoral Fellowship, 2003-2006
  • Award for Student Research Excellence, 2001
  • NIH Funded Honors Program, UCLA, 2001-2003
  • Center for Academic and Research Excellence Scholar, 2000-2001
 

Representative Publications

  1. Zhang Z, He G, Han GS, Zhang J, Cantazaro N, Diaz A, Wu Z, Carman GM, Xe L, Wang X. (2018) Host Pah1p phosphatidate phosphatase limits viral replication by regulating phospholipid synthesis. PLoS Pathog. 14(4):e1006988.   https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1006988

  2. Garcia-Ruiz H, Diaz A, Ahlquist P. (2018) Intermolecular RNA recombination occurs at different frequencies in alternate forms of brome mosaic virus RNA replication compartments. Viruses. 15; 10(3). doi: 10.3390/v10030131

  3. Hanauer DI, et al. (2017) An inclusive Research Education Community (iREC): Impact of the SEA-PHAGES program on research outcomes and student learning. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 114:13531-36.  doi: 10.1073/pnas

  4. Liao HK, Gu Y, Diaz A, Marlett J, Takahashi Y, Li M, Suzuki K, Xu R, Hishida T, Chang CJ, Esteban CR, Young J, Izpisua Belmonte JC. (2015) Use of the CRISPR/Cas9 system as an intracellular defense against HIV-1 infection in human cells. Nat Commun. 10;6:6413. doi: 10.1038/ncomms7413

  5. Diaz A, Zhang J, Ollwerther A, Wang X, Ahlquist P. (2015) Host ESCRT Proteins Are Required for Bromovirus RNA Replication Compartment Assembly and Function. PLoS Pathog. 11(3):e1004742.  doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004742

  6. Diaz A, Wang X. (2014) Bromovirus-induced remodeling of host membranes during viral RNA replication. Curr Opin Virol. 9:104-10. doi: 10.1016/j.coviro.2014.09.018

  7. Ivetac, A., Nichols, S., Boyer, P., Diaz, A., Naughton, J., Young, J.A.T., Hughes, S.T., McCammon, A. (2014) Discovery of Novel Inhibitors of HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase Through Virtual Screening of Experimental and Theoretical Ensembles. Chemical Biology and Drug Design 83:521-531.  doi: 10.1111/cbdd.1227
  8. Diaz, A., and Ahlquist, P. (2012) Role of host reticulon proteins in rearranging membranes for positive-strand RNA virus replication. Curr. Opin. Microbiol. 15: 519-524.                      doi: 10.1016/j.mib.2012.04.007
  9. Zhang, J.†, Diaz, A.†, Mao, L., Ahlquist, P., and Wang, X. (2012) Host Acyl-CoA binding protein regulates replication complex assembly and activity of a positive-strand RNA virus. J. Virol. 86:5110-5121 (†: authors contributed equally). doi: 10.1128/JVI.06701-11
  10. Diaz, A., Gallei, A., and Ahlquist, P. (2012) Bromovirus RNA replication compartment formation requires concerted action of 1a's self-interacting RNA capping and helicase domains. J. Virol. 86: 821-834. doi: 10.1128/JVI.05684-11
  11. Wang, X., Diaz, A., Hao, L., Gancarz, B., den Boon, J.A., and Ahlquist, P. (2011) Intersection of the multivesicular body pathway and lipid homeostasis in RNA replication by a positive-strand RNA virus. J. Virol. 85:5494-503.  doi: 10.1128/JVI.02031-10
  12. Diaz, A., Wang, X., and Ahlquist, P. (2010). Membrane-shaping reticulon proteins play crucial roles in forming viral RNA replication compartments. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 107:16291-16296. (Featured in Faculty of 1000 Biology). doi: 10.1073/pnas.1011105107
  13. den Boon, J.A., Diaz, A., and Ahlquist, P. (2010). Cytoplasmic viral replication complexes. Cell Host & Microbe. 8:77-85.  doi: 10.1016/j.chom.2010.06.010
  14. Liu, L., Westler, W.M., den Boon, J.A., Wang, X., Diaz, A., Steinberg, H.A., and Ahlquist, P. (2009). An amphipathic α-helix controls multiple roles of BMV protein 1a in RNA replication complex assembly and function. PLoS Pathog 5(3): e1000351.                                         doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1000351
  15. Ohbayashi F, Balamotis MA, Kishimoto A, Aizawa E, Diaz A, Hasty P, Graham FL, Caskey CT, Mitani K. (2005). Correction of chromosomal mutation and random integration in embryonic stem cells with helper-dependent adenoviral vectors. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 102:13628-33.