Vera Tarakanova

Vera Tarakanova, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Her research focuses on virus-host interactions, particularly the role of gammaherpesviruses in driving lymphomas and other malignancies. She leads the Tarakanova Lab, which employs mouse gammaherpesvirus-68 (MHV68) models to study viral pathogenesis, immune responses, and metabolic pathways. Key areas include understanding how viral infections modulate B cell biology, germinal center dynamics, and latent viral reservoirs.

Education: PhD in Microbiology from Saint Louis University, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at Washington University.

Research Interests: Virus-associated tumorigenesis, interferon regulatory factors (e.g., IRF-1, IRF-3), STAT1 signaling, and chronic infection mechanisms. Her interdisciplinary work integrates molecular biology, immunology, and animal models to address gaps in predicting viral lymphomagenesis risk.

Recent Publications Highlight: Focus on STAT1’s dual role in promoting and suppressing gammaherpesvirus infection, IL-1 signaling’s control of viral reactivation, and the impact of bacterial co-infections on viral latency.

Labs/Teams: The Tarakanova Lab trains interdisciplinary scientists through collaborations and external funding. Current members include graduate students Xander Bradeen, Matthew Brown, Erika Johansen, Cade Rahlf, and Damon Schmalzriedt.