Robin M. Bush

Associate Professor, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
School of Biological Sciences

PH.D., University of Michigan

Phone: (949) 824-2243
Fax: (949) 824-2181
Email: rmbush@uci.edu

University of California, Irvine
Office: 5207 McGaugh Hall
Mail: 321 Steinhaus Hall
Mail Code: 2525
Irvine, CA 92697
picture of Robin M. Bush
Research
Interests 		Molecular Evolution of Pathogens
   
URL Robin Bush's home page
   
Research
Abstract 		I study the evolution of infectious disease using the techniques of molecular phylogenetics, population genetics and protein homology modeling. In particular, I develop and apply computational techniques to study how antigenic proteins on the surfaces of pathogens evolve in response to host immune defenses. Most of my efforts constitute basic research: I develop and test hypotheses about evolutionary processes. However, I also collaborate with scientists at public health agencies in applying my results to current efforts in disease surveillance, prediction and vaccine development. My research primarily focuses on the influenza virus, which with subsequent pneumonia is the sixth leading cause of death in the US. I also work on the bacteria Chlamydia, which is the major cause of preventable human blindness and also the leading cause of venereal disease worldwide.
   
Publications Feher, V.A., Randall, A., Baldi, P. Bush, R.M., de la Maza, L.M., and R. E. Amaro. 2013. A 3-dimensional trimeric beta-barrel model for Chlamydia MOMP contains conserved and novel elements of gram-negative bacterial porins. PLoS ONE 8(7): e68934. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0068934
   
  Flanagan, M.L., Parrish, C.R., Cobey, S., Glass, G.E, Bush, R.M. and T.J. Leighton. 2012. Anticipating the Species Jump: Surveillance for Emerging Viral Threats. Zoonoses and Public Health 59: 155-163
   
  Amaro, R.E., R.V. Swift, L. Votapka, W.W. Li, R.C. Walker, and R.M. Bush. 2011. Mechanism of 150-cavity formation in influenza neuraminidase. Nature Communications 2:388.
   
  Frank, S. A. and Bush, R.M. 2007. Barriers to antigenic escape by pathogens: trade-off between reproductive rate and antigenic mutability. BMC Evolutionary Biology 7:229.
   
  Bush. R.M. 2010. Influenza Forensics. pp 109-135 in: Microbial Forensics. 2nd Edition. Budowle, B. et al., (eds). Elsevier.
   
  Bush. R.M. 2004. Influenza as a model system for studying the cross-species transfer and evolution of the SARS coronavirus. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 359:1067-1073.
   
  Huang, S.S., T.R. Avery, Y. Song, K.R. Elkins, C.C. Nguyen, S.K. Nutter, A.A. Nafday, C.J. Condon, M.T. Chang, D. Chrest, J. Boos, G. Bobashev, W. Wheaton, S.A. Frank, R. Platt, M. Lipsitch, R.M. Bush, S. Eubank, D.S. Burke, and B.Y. Lee. 2010. Quantifying interhospital patient sharing as a mechanism for infectious disease spread. Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology 31:1160-1169.
   
  Ferguson, N.M., A.P. Galvani and R.M. Bush. 2003. Ecological and
immunological determinants of influenza evolution. Nature 422:428-433.
   
  Rodríguez-Marañón, M.J., Bush, R.M. Peterson, E.M. Schirmer, T. and L. de la Maza. 2002. Prediction of the membrane-spanning -strands of the major outer membrane protein of Chlamydia. Protein Science 11:1854-1861.
   
  Bush, R.M. and K.D.E. Everett. 2001 Molecular evolution of the Chlamyidaceae. International Journal of Systematic Evolution and Microbiology 51:203-220.
   
  Bush, R.M., C.B. Smith, N.J. Cox and W.M. Fitch. 2000. Effects of passage history and sampling bias on phylogenetic reconstruction of human influenza A evolution. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences U.S.A. 97: 6974-6980.
   
  Bush, R. M., C.A. Bender, K. Subbaro, N.J. Cox and W.M. Fitch. 1999. Predicting the Evolution of Influenza A. Science 2861921-1925.
   
   
Link to this profile http://www.faculty.uci.edu/profile.cfm?faculty_id=2718
   
Last updated 06/26/2015