Keith William Jarosinski

Keith William Jarosinski is an Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in Pathobiology at the University of Illinois. His research focuses on herpesvirus pathogenesis using the natural virus-host model of Marek's disease virus (MDV) in chickens, with applications to understanding human herpesviruses including varicella-zoster virus (VZV) and herpes simplex virus (HSV).

Dr. Jarosinski's research interests span multiple areas of virology and pathogenesis:

• Herpesvirus pathogenesis, particularly Marek's disease virus (MDV) in chickens
• Transmission mechanisms of herpesviruses between hosts
• Host specificity and evolutionary basis for host switching of herpesviruses
• Replication of herpesviruses in skin cells, comparing avian and human systems
• Oncogenic properties of animal herpesviruses and their relevance to human cancers
• Viral gene expression regulation in different cell types

His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on comparative virology, examining how avian herpesviruses serve as models for understanding human herpesviruses. His work frequently explores molecular mechanisms of viral transmission, host-pathogen interactions, and viral oncogenesis, with particular emphasis on glycoprotein function, viral gene expression, host immune responses, and cross-species transmission barriers. His laboratory utilizes innovative approaches including viruses expressing fluorescently tagged proteins to track viral pathogenesis in real-time.

Dr. Jarosinski collaborates with researchers both within the University of Illinois and externally, including significant work with Dr. Charles Grose's Lab at the University of Iowa on human herpesviruses. His research has practical implications for understanding viral transmission, developing antiviral strategies, and creating better animal models for human viral diseases.