Matthew Wiebe

Matthew Wiebe is a Professor in the Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences within the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. His research focuses on pathogen-host interactions, particularly using poxviruses as models to understand viral manipulation of host cellular processes. With a Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska Medical Center (2003) and a B.S. from the University of Nebraska-Omaha (1998), he has established a significant research program in virology.

Dr. Wiebe's research centers on poxvirus-host interactions, with particular emphasis on vaccinia virus (the smallpox vaccine strain) and the host defense protein barrier to autointegration factor (BAF). His laboratory investigates how poxviruses evade host defenses through viral mimics of cellular enzymes, particularly focusing on viral kinases that phosphorylate BAF to overcome this antiviral defense. This work has revealed fundamental insights into host genome defense mechanisms that may extend to other pathogens.

Analysis of his recent publications shows consistent focus on viral kinases, host defense mechanisms, and the molecular interplay between viral and cellular proteins. His work spans both basic virology and implications for antiviral strategies, with significant contributions to understanding how viruses manipulate cellular processes to facilitate replication.