Computational analysis was performed on amino acid sequences of poxviruses and herpesviruses to show relationships to human complement regulators, factor H and C4 binding protein -chain (C4bp). Sequence alignments and phylogenetic trees have demonstrated that all viral proteins studied are similar to both complement regulators. Poxviruses showed a higher similarity to C4bp. A number of individual domains of the viral sequences show similarity to the functional regions of human complement regulators, explaining their role in modulating the host immune response.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Ciulla, Emily Rose
• Emery, Andrea M.
• Carreiro, Dina Aguiar

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 01D258M

Advisor

• Krushkal, Julia S.

Year

• 2001

Date created

• 2001-01-01

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biology & Biotechnology

Rights statement

• In Copyright