Immune Booster 34: Decoding antiviral signaling networks with Stacy Horner

Molecular mechanisms of RNA and virus-host interactions drive the research of Stacy Horner, an associate professor at Duke University Medical Center and director of the Duke Center for RNA Biology. Her work focuses on how RNA modifications, particularly m6A, regulate viral life cycles and host innate immune responses, including the evasion of RIG-I sensing. Beyond RNA, the lab investigates UFMylation, a post-translational modification system that modulates innate immune signaling and facilitates viral assembly for pathogens like Dengue and Zika. These mechanistic insights reveal how viruses co-opt cellular machinery, offering potential therapeutic targets for both infectious diseases and cancer. By prioritizing discovery-based science, this research highlights how fundamental molecular biology informs broader clinical applications and provides essential training for the next generation of scientists.