Kathy Shair, PhD
- Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
- Cancer Virology Program
- Program in Microbiology & Immunology (PMI)
- Oncology Graduate Program (OGP)
Education & Training
- PhD in Virology, University of Cambridge (UK)
- BS in Biochemistry (Hons), Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine (UK)
- Postdoc: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Laboratory of Nancy Raab-Traub)
Research Interest Summary
Research Interests
The Shair lab studies Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and EBV oncogenic mechanisms. EBV is a ubiquitous human pathogen that causes various types of cancers including B-cell lymphomas and epithelial cell carcinomas. Some populations, particularly those with immune suppression, are at greater risk of developing EBV-associated cancer although the molecular basis of increased risk in these populations are not defined. We aim to understand the host and viral molecular determinants of EBV oncogenesis in human cells and develop experimental culture models of EBV infection. Our lab has developed 3-D culture models of the nasopharynx. We use both traditional and emerging technologies such as single cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) to elucidate viral mechanisms.
A major focus of the lab is to understand the molecular pathogenesis of EBV in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. There are three primary research projects: 1) elucidating the mechanism by which EBV oncogenic proteins modulate the DNA damage response, 2) developing experimental organoid models of the nasopharyngeal epithelia to understand early infection events in the nasopharynx, 3) identifying EBV serological biomarkers and genetic factors for risk assessment and the early detection of EBV-associated cancers. There is currently no FDA-approved prophylactic vaccine that can prevent EBV infection. Given the high seroprevalence of EBV infection and chronic infection for the lifetime of the host, our ultimate goal is to understand why some individuals are at increased risk of developing EBV-associated cancers.
Publications
Warner BE, Patel J, Wang R, Adams-Haduch J, Gao YT, Koh WP, Wong KW, Chiang AKS, Yuan JM, Shair KHY. The Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigen 1 Variant Associated with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Defines the Sequence Criteria for Serologic Risk Prediction. Clin Cancer Res. 2024 Nov 15;30(22):5207-5217. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-24-1142. PubMed PMID: 39264275; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC11567791.
Paudel S, Warner BE, Wang R, Adams-Haduch J, Reznik AS, Dou J, Huang Y, Gao YT, Koh WP, Bäckerholm A, Yuan JM, Shair KHY. Serologic Profiling Using an Epstein-Barr Virus Mammalian Expression Library Identifies EBNA1 IgA as a Prediagnostic Marker for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma. Clin Cancer Res. 2022 Dec 1;28(23):5221-5230. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-22-1600. PubMed PMID: 36165913; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9722633.
Ziegler P, Tian Y, Bai Y, Abrahamsson S, Bäckerholm A, Reznik AS, Green A, Moore JA, Lee SE, Myerburg MM, Park HJ, Tang KW, Shair KHY. A primary nasopharyngeal three-dimensional air-liquid interface cell culture model of the pseudostratified epithelium reveals differential donor- and cell type-specific susceptibility to Epstein-Barr virus infection. PLoS Pathog. 2021 Apr;17(4):e1009041. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009041. eCollection 2021 Apr. PubMed PMID: 33914843; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8112674.
Shair KHY. mSphere of Influence: 3-D Culture Models Influence Studies on Epstein-Barr Virus Molecular Pathogenesis in the Epithelium. mSphere. 2020 Sep 23;5(5). doi: 10.1128/mSphere.00954-20. PubMed PMID: 32968011; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7520808.
Caves EA, Cook SA, Lee N, Stoltz D, Watkins S, Shair KHY. Air-Liquid Interface Method To Study Epstein-Barr Virus Pathogenesis in Nasopharyngeal Epithelial Cells. mSphere. 2018 Jul 18;3(4). doi: 10.1128/mSphere.00152-18. PubMed PMID: 30021875; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6052337.