Dr. Troyer received her Ph.D. in genetics from the department of Molecular and Cell Biology at University of Connecticut under Dr. Linda D. Strausbaugh. Her dissertation research involved the genetic organization and evolution of repetitive elements in Drosophila species. She received further training in phylogenetics, virology, pathology, and immunology as a postdoctoral fellow with Dr. Stephen J. O’Brien and Dr. Jill Pecon-Slattery at the Laboratory of Genomic Diversity and then with Dr. Sue VandeWoude in the Department of Molecular Biology, Immunology, and Pathology at Colorado State University. Dr. Troyer now provides her expertise in genetics and virology to research on HIV/AIDS and animal models for viral diseases as a staff scientist (SAIC-Frederick technical support contractor) at the Laboratory of Genomic Diversity.
The research in my lab stems from my interest in complex host reactions to retroviral infection and the mechanisms by which these viruses evade or exploit their host’s defenses. We study viral-host interactions in several ways. On a population level, we identify human genes that, either through direct interaction with HIV-1 or via indirect influence on the ability of the host immune system to respond to and control infection, influence susceptibility to and outcome of HIV-1 infection. On a species level, we use comparative genomics to examine the evolution of anti-viral host proteins. We also compare viral sequences to determine patterns of within and cross-species transmission and identify viral genetic determinates of pathogenicity.
Troyer, J.L. et al. FIV cross-species transmission: An evolutionary prospective. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 123, 159-66 (2008).
Pecon-Slattery, J. et al. Genomic organization, sequence divergence, and recombination of feline immunodeficiency virus from lions in the wild. BMC Genomics 9, 66 (2008).
Brown, M.A. et al. Genetic characterization of feline leukemia virus from Florida panthers. Emerg Infect Dis 14, 252-9 (2008).
Franklin, S.P. et al. Frequent transmission of immunodeficiency viruses among bobcats and pumas. J Virol 81, 10961-9 (2007).
O'Brien, S.J., Troyer, J.L., Roelke, M., Marker, L. & Pecon-Slattery, J. Plagues and adaptation: Lessons from the Felidae models for SARS and AIDS. Biological Conservation 131, 255-267 (2006).
Troyer, J.L. et al. Seroprevalence and genomic divergence of circulating strains of feline immunodeficiency virus among Felidae and Hyaenidae species. J Virol 79, 8282-94 (2005).
Smirnova, N. et al. Feline lentiviruses demonstrate differences in receptor repertoire and envelope structural elements. Virology 342, 60-76 (2005).
Troyer, J.L. et al. Patterns of feline immunodeficiency virus multiple infection and genome divergence in a free-ranging population of African lions. J Virol 78, 3777-91 (2004).
