Montana State University
Department of Immunology & Infectious Diseases > Faculty > Michele Hardy, Associate Professor

Michele Hardy, Associate Professor

Immunology and Infectious Diseases
P.O. Box 173610
Montana State University
Bozeman, MT 59717
(406) 994-6378
mhardy@montana.edu		           Michele Hardy
VTMB 580 Fall 09

Research Interests

The Hardy laboratory studies molecular interactions between enteric viruses and host cells. The major virus under study is the rotavirus, which is responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality in children under 5 yrs of age, worldwide.  We seek to understand how protein-protein interaction networks regulate both viral gene expression and the host cell response to virus invasion.  The host innate immune system, prinicipally the interferon system, is key to restricting virus replication and spread.  We know simply because they exist that viruses have evolved mechanisms to counteract and evade host immune responses.  Projects in the lab target understanding these mechanismsin both virus and host, with particular focus on intracellular signaling pathways. 

Education

  • B.S. Texas A&M University, 1988
  • Ph.D. Texas A&M University, 1993

Professional Experience

  • 1988-1989 Graduate Teaching Assistant, Clinical Pathology, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Texas A&M University
  • 1989-1992 Graduate Teaching Assistant, Veterinary Virology, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Texas A&M University
  • 1993-1997 Postdoctoral Associate, Division of Molecular Virology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
  • 1997-2002 Assistant Professor, Veterinary Molecular Biology, Montana State University
  • 1997-present  Affiliate Associate Professor, Dept of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
  • 2002-present  Associate Professor, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Montana State University

Honors and Awards

  • 2009                 Cox Family Award for Excellence in Teaching and Creative Scholarship
  • 2001                 Charles and Nora Wiley Award for Meritorious Research and Creative Activity
  • 1996-1997      Postdoctoral fellowship, Division of Molecular Virology, Baylor College of Medicine
  • 1994-1996      Postdoctoral fellowship, Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Baylor College of Medicine
  • 1991-1993      Gamma Sigma Delta, Honor Society for Agriculture

Extramural Grant Activity

Current research programs are funded by competitive grants from the NIH and the USDA/NRI

Selected Publications

  1. Hardy, M.E., T.J. Crone, J.E. Brower and K Ettayebi: 2002. Substrate specificity of the Norwalk virus 3C-like proteinase. Virus Research 89:29-39.
  2. Mitzel, D.N., C.M. Weisend, M.W. White and M.E. Hardy. 2003. Translational regulation of rotavirus gene expression. J Gen Virol 84: 383-391.
  3. Graff, J. W., D.N. Mitzel, C. M. Weisend, M.F. Flenniken and M.E. Hardy. Interferon regulatory factor 3 is a cellular partner of rotavirus NSP1. 2002. J Virol 76: 9545-9550
  4. Daughenbaugh K.F., C. Fraser, J.W.B. Hershey and M.E. Hardy. 2003. The genome-linked protein VPg binds eIF3, suggesting its role in translation initiation complex recruitment. EMBO J. 22:1-8
  5. Lochridge, V.P. and M.E. Hardy. 2003. Snow Mountain virus genome sequence and virus-like particle assembly. Virus Genes: Virus Genes:26:71-82
  6. Ettayebi, K. and M.E. Hardy 2003. The Norwalk virus nonstructural protein p48 binds the SNARE-regulator VAP-A and disrupts secretory vesicle trafficking. J. Virol. 77: 11790-11797.
  7. Lochridge, V.P., K.J. Jutila, J.W. Graff, and M.E. Hardy. 2005. Epitopes in the P2 domain of norovirus VP1 involved in virus host cell interactions. J Gen Virol 86: 2799
  8. Daughenbaugh, K.F., Wobus, C. and M.E. Hardy. 2006. VPg of murine norovirus binds translation initiation factors in infected cells. Virology J 3:33 doi:10.1186/1743-422X-3-33.
  9. Shaneyfelt, M.E., A.D. Burke, M.A. Jutila and M.E. Hardy. 2006. Natural products that reduce rotavirus infectivity identified by a semi high throughput screening assay. Virology J 3:68; doi:10.1186/1743-422X-3-68.
  10. Buckner, D., S. Wilson, S. Kurk, M.E Hardy, and M.A. Jutila. 2006. Use of early passage fetal intestinal epithelial cells in semi-high-throughput screening assays: An approach to identify new innate immune system adjuvants. J Biomol Screen. 2006 Aug 21.
  11. Graff J.W., J. Ewen, K. Ettayebi, and M.E. Hardy. 2007.  Zinc binding domain of rotavirus NSP1 is required for proteasome-dependent degradation of IRF3 and autoregulatory NSP1 stability. J Gen Virol 88:613
  12. Ettayebi, K. and M.E. Hardy.  2008.  Recombinant norovirus-specific scFv inhibit virus-like particle binding to cellular ligands.  Virology J 5:21  doi:10.1186/1743-422X-5-21
  13. Furman, L., W.S. Maaty, L.K. Petersen, K. Ettayebi, M.E. Hardy, and B. Bothner.  2009.  Cysteine protease activation and apoptosis in murine norovirus infection.  Virology J  6:139 doi:10.1186/1743-422x-6-139
  14. Graff, J.W. K. Ettayebi, and M.E Hardy.  2009. Rotavirus NSP1 inhibits NFkB activation by inducing proteasome-dependent degradation of Beta-TrCP: A novel mechanism of IFN antagonism.  PLoS Pathogens  5(1) doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1000280.
  15. Sen, A. N. Feng, K. Ettayebi, M.E. Hardy and H.B. Greenberg.  2009. IRF3 inhibition by rotavirus NSP1 is host cell and virus strain dependent but independent of NSP1 proteasomal degradation.  J Virol 83: 10322-0.335.