Peter C. Thompson

Advisor: Dr. Matthew Hare

Previous Education:
B.S. Biology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Research Interests:
I am studying the population genetics of Perkinsus marinus, a protistan parasite of the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica. I am seeking to understand the basic biology and evolution of this parasite that is causing significant death in the host population. I intend to uncover the frequency and spatial distribution of sexual reproduction in P. marinus populations, the genetic connectivity among P. marinus populations, and the genetic patterns associated with a recent parasite range expansion north of Chesapeake Bay. These studies are broadly focused on understanding organismal interactions in estuarine environments in the context of diverse physical conditions that may be affected by global climate change.

Location of Research:
The entire east coast of the United States including Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic estuaries.

Publications:
Feigelstock, D. A., P. Thompson, and G. G. Kaplan. 2005. Growth of hepatitis A virus in a mouse liver cell line. J. Virol. 79:2950-2955.

Prikhod'ko, E. A., G. G. Prikhod'ko, R. M. Siegel, P. Thompson, M. E. Major, and J. I. Cohen. 2004. The NS3 protein of hepatitis C virus induces caspase-8-mediated apoptosis independent of its protease or helicase activities. Virology 329:53-67.

Feigelstock, D., P. Thompson, P. Mattoo, and G. G. Kaplan. 1998a. Polymorphisms of the hepatitis A virus cellular receptor 1 in African green monkey kidney cells result in antigenic variants that do not react with protective monoclonal antibody 190/4. J Virol 72:6218-22.

Feigelstock, D., P. Thompson, P. Mattoo, Y. Zhang, and G. G. Kaplan. 1998b. The human homolog of HAVcr-1 codes for a hepatitis A virus cellular receptor. J Virol 72:6621-8.

Thompson, P., J. Lu, and G. G. Kaplan. 1998. The Cys-rich region of hepatitis A virus cellular receptor 1 is required for binding of hepatitis A virus and protective monoclonal antibody 190/4. J Virol 72:3751-61.

Kaplan, G., A. Totsuka, P. Thompson, T. Akatsuka, Y. Moritsugu, and S. M. Feinstone. 1996. Identification of a surface glycoprotein on African green monkey kidney cells as a receptor for hepatitis A virus. Embo J 15:4282-96.

Awards:
2005 National Shellfisheries Association, Honorable Mention, Best Student Oral Presentation