During her PhD studies, Jing Wang researched a novel DNA sensor system that allows the detection of single catalytic DNA integration events mediated by retrovirus encoded integrase (IN).

Jing Wang studied how the system utilizes the unique integration reaction of IN to generate a surface anchored nicked DNA circle that serves as a substrate for specific, quantitative and highly sensitive detection of purified recombinant IN or virus particles.

Infections with HIV remain a major threat to global health with 2.1 million new infections and 1.2 million deaths in 2015 globally. The highly sensitive and specific detection of HIV particles based on IN activity holds promise for the development of a new type of diagnostic tools suitable for early detection of HIV, which would be valuable for prevention strategies as well as for efficient treatment.

The PhD degree was completed at the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Science and Technology, Aarhus University.

This résumé was prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Friday 7 October 2016 at 13.00
Place: Building 1131, room 623, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, C. F. Møllers Allé 3, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C.
Title of dissertation: Detection of integrase in retroviral particles by a specific DNA sensor with a potential for adaptation to point-of-care diagnosis
Contact information: Jing Wang, e-mail: jwang@mb.au.dk, tel.: +45 5268 9821
Members of the assessment committee:
Professor Alessandro Desideri, Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy
Associate Professor Hanne Cathrine Bisgaard, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen
Associate Professor Ernst-Martin Füchtbauer (chair), Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University
Main supervisor:
Professor Finn Skou Pedersen, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University
Co-supervisor:
Associate Professor Birgitta R. Knudsen, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University
Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English

The defence is public.
The dissertation is available for reading at the Graduate School of Science and Technology/GSST, Ny Munkegade 120, building 1520, room 128-134, 8000 Aarhus C.