Research in the Roby lab focusses on the interplay between viral proteins and host cell signalling responses, with a particular interest in understanding the mechanisms of orthobunyavirus and orthoflavivirus pathogenesis. This research integrates molecular biology, immunology, and cell biology and addresses pathogens of relevance to both human and animal health.

Projects within the Roby lab cover 3 main areas:

1) interactions with antiviral innate immune signalling (i.e. molecular motifs contributing to pattern recognition receptor activation during virus infection, and mechanisms viruses use to subvert this response)

2) pro-viral cell signalling that is induced and/or licenced during infection (i.e. metabolic signalling that mobilizes resources necessary for virus production)

3) collateral signalling pathways modulated by viral infection that lead to specific pathogenic outcomes (i.e. inhibited neurogenic signalling that may lead to ZIKV-induced microcephaly)

By revealing the interplay between host cell signalling and viral pathogenesis, the Roby lab aims to discover novel strategies to develop new antivirals and vaccines to combat viral infections.