Geiss Lab

Our group’s focus, as part of the Center for Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases (CVID), is understanding how RNA viruses replicate at the molecular and biochemical levels in order to develop novel strategies for the prevention and treatment of arboviral diseases. We are also interested in developing novel virus-based tools that can be used by the wider scientific community. We use a wide range of tools (classical virology, molecular biology, cell biology, biochemistry, engineering, computational biology, etc.) to understand how these important human pathogens replicate and use this information to help improve human and animal health.

Dr. Brian Geiss is the Director of the Master of Science in Microbiology – Immunology program. This nine-month, non-thesis program is designed to strengthen the scientific academic portfolio of those seeing terminal professional degrees and provide preparation for those seeking careers in biotechnology and research.

research project

Mechanism of Flavivirus RNA Capping

Mosquito-borne flaviviruses are a continuing public health threat. There are currently few vaccines available against flaviviruses and no antiviral therapeutics available for clinical use. This project will provide insight for the development of new antivirals and vaccines to combat these pathogens.

view project
research project

Real Time Monitor for Airborne Viral Pathogens

The Geiss lab and ADev staff have developed carbon-based electrode arrays that are capable of detecting virus particles, a way to modify carbon electrodes with affinity agents that can selectively bind either virus particle simulants and/or virus particles, and a method for integrating working elect.

Publications

A Nuclease Protection ELISA Assay for Colorimetric and Electrochemical Detection of Nucleic Acids.

Filer JE, Channon RB, Henry CS, Geiss BJ.
Anal Methods. 2019 Feb 28;11(8):1027-1034. doi: 10.1039/C8AY02729C. Epub 2019 Jan 24.

Zika virus noncoding sfRNAs sequester multiple host-derived RNA-binding proteins and modulate mRNA decay and splicing during infection.

Michalski D, Ontiveros JG, Russo J, Charley PA, Anderson JR, Heck AM, Geiss BJ, Wilusz J.
J Biol Chem. 2019 Sep 13. pii: jbc.RA119.009129. doi: 10.1074/jbc.RA119.009129. [Epub ahead of print]

An ultra-sensitive capacitive microwire sensor for pathogen-specific serum antibody responses.

Wang L, Filer JE, Lorenz MM, Henry CS, Dandy DS, Geiss BJ.
Biosens Bioelectron. 2019 Apr 15;131:46-52. doi: 10.1016/j.bios.2019.01.040. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

Development of an Electrochemical Paper-Based Analytical Device for Trace Detection of Virus Particles.

Channon RB, Yang Y, Feibelman KM, Geiss BJ, Dandy DS, Henry CS.
Anal Chem. 2018 Jun 19;90(12):7777-7783. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.8b02042. Epub 2018 Jun 1.

Identification of small molecule inhibitors of the Chikungunya virus nsP1 RNA capping enzyme.

Feibelman KM, Fuller BP, Li L, LaBarbera DV, Geiss BJ.
Antiviral Res. 2018 Jun;154:124-131. doi: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2018.03.013. Epub 2018 Apr 20.

more publications
8 Number of different viruses worked with
Best white elephant gift at the lab holiday party Handmade pottery from Kelly Du Pont
10 Lowest number of antibodies detected with a paper-based analytical device in the lab

People

Brian Geiss, PhD

Principal Investigator (PI)
Associate Professor
Director of Microbiology- Immunology Master's Program

Mike Scherman, MSBA

Research Associate III

Loran Anderson, MS

Research Associate II

Kelly Du Pont

Ph.D. Candidate, Chemistry

James Terry, MS

Ph.D. Student, Microbiology

Davis Moline

Student Researcher

Summer 2019 Members of the Brian Geiss Lab.

news and updates view all

October 2, 2020 Older people like President Trump are at more risk from COVID-19 because of how the immune system ages

What is it that puts older people at increased risk from viruses like SARS-CoV-2?
July 27, 2020 Coloradoan: CSU researchers move home COVID-19 test forward

The CSU developed COVID-19 biosensor test could produce results from blood, saliva or nasal swab sample in 30 minutes at home for a low cost.

July 23, 2020 Geiss Lab Available Plasmids

Geiss Lab distribution of virus infectious clone expression plasmids (Zika, Sindbis, etc.).