early career scientist

Rebekah Honce, PhD

virologist that dabbles in immunology and ecology

Courtesy of St. Jude Photography

A little about me

My research focuses on the dynamic interactions between hosts and viruses, particularly at the animal-human interface. I am interested in how viral diversity influences infection outcomes and how host factors shape pathogenesis and transmission of zoonotic infections. My long-term goal is to explore how viruses reprogram host metabolism to persist in mammalian reservoirs and to infect spillover hosts.

Research

I'm currently working with Jason Botten, PhD on arenavirus pathogenesis and cellular virology

Now more than ever, we must identify the viral and host determinants of spillover from animal reservoirs to human hosts. Through my graduate studies, I questioned how host status can inform influenza virus and coronavirus pathogenesis. This included studies on transmission bottlenecks between hosts and susceptibility to infection as well as investigation into host immune responses and vaccine efficacy.

As a postdoc, I am continuing my investigation into host-viral interactions by investigating the role of defective interfering particles in mammarenavirus pathogenesis and persistence in reservoir host, and how we could exploit these as therapeutics. I am dipping my toes into disease ecology as well as molecular and cellular virology to uncover the cellular and viral factors implicated in these varying disease outcomes.

I have an expertise in RNA viral biology and modeling viral disease pathogenesis in vitro and in small and large animal models. My background in host factors that influence susceptibility to viral infection pairs nicely with my current focus on identifying viral factors affecting human disease. I aim to continue exploring viruses at the animal-human interface, including understanding the metabolic and immunologic mechanisms that favor viral maintenance in animal reservoirs and factors that favor transmission.

Skills and Training

I'm an RNA virus enthusiast who works across biological scales to answer my research questions

An image of a white woman in a lab coat with blue gloves on her hands. She is using a multichannel pipette to load very scienctific looking blue dyed liquid into a multiwell plate.

Models of RNA virus biology

Including mouse, ferret, hamster, and avian models of infection and transmission and molecular, cellular, serologic and biochemical assays.

ABSL-3 Proficiency

Over 1,000 hours logged including in vivo infection and transmission models and standard virologic assays using multiple viral pathogens of pandemic potential.

Constant work-in-progress

Committed to increasing research equity, rigor, and reproducibility by seeking out trainings in inclusivity, biosafety, statistics, and data visualization.

CV At-a-Glance

Check out my virtual CV or download the PDF for more information on my approach to research, teaching, service, and outreach

Education

I am a proud alumnus of West Virginia Wesleyan College '16 and hold a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from University of Tennessee HSC '20. I am currently a postdoctoral scientist at the University of Vermont.

Research

Using complementary in vivo and in vitro approaches, I tease apart cellular and viral factors involved in disease to uncover the secrets of RNA virus pathogenesis across multiple biological scales.

Teaching

Through thoughtful course development, I have developed an empathetic education style to facilitate a life-long love of learning in students with two main tenets: information literacy and connecting science with society.

Service

I work to make science more accessible by advancing equity in academic research, increasing scientific literacy through creative public communication and improving the graduate student and postdoctoral experience.

Recent Publications

Diet switch pre-vaccination improves immune response and metabolic status in formerly obese mice

Honce R*, Vazquez-Pagan A*, Livingston B, Mandarano AH, Wilander BA, Cherry S, Hargest V, Sharp B, Prigleb PH, Kirkpatrick Roubidoux E, Van de Velde LA, Skinner RC, McGargill MA, Thomas PG, Schultz-Cherry S.

Nature Microbiology. 18 April 2024. doi: 10.1038/s41564-024-01677-y

Diet-induced obesity impacts influenza disease severity and transmission dynamics in ferrets

Meliopoulos V*, Honce R*, Livingston B, Hargest G, Frieden P, Lazure L, Brigleb P, Karlsson EA, Tillman H, Allen EK, Boyd D, Thomas P, Schultz-Cherry S.

Science Advances. 8 April 2024. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adk9137

Looking beyond the H5 avian influenza viruses

Honce R and Schultz-Cherry S.

Cell. 14 September 2023. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.08.014

Influenza defective interfering virus promotes multifaceted cell differentiation and reduces the inflammatory response in mice

Wang C, Honce R, Salvatore M, Chow D, Randazzo D, Yang J, Twells NM, Mahal LK, Schultz-Cherry S, Ghedin E.

Journal of Virology. 31 May 2023. doi: 10.1128/jvi.00493-23

Beyond the Laboratory

Bucket-list Concerts

As an avid music lover with no discernible music talent, I'm excited to cross off some bucket-list artists in 2024. After Bruce Springsteen this Spring, we're headed to Boston in November for Johnny Blue Skies aka Sturgill Simpson.

A Link to the Past

My husband got me into video games beyond the Super Mario Bros. series of my childhood during the "COVID Times." After my second play-through of Skyrim, we finally bit the bullet and dove into BOTW and TOTK. Now, I'm tackling the Legend of Zelda and Fallout series.

Green Mountain Summits

On a mission to summit the local peaks. We have crossed off Mt. Mansfield, Camel's Hump, Sterling Pond, and Mt. Philo, the latter with our pup in tow, and next up is Mt. Abe. We're hoping to traverse the White Mountains of New Hampshire in 2025!

Download my full CV for more information

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