Professor
Max Rady College of Medicine
Medical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases
Room 795 - 715 McDermot Ave.
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 3P4
Kevin Coombs, BA, MA, PhD
Cross-appointments
- Department of Physiology & Pathophysiology, Max Rady College of Medicine
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science
Research themes
Molecular delineation of:
- Anti-viral compounds
- Virus/host macromolecular interactions
- Virus/host structure function
Research interests
- Using temperature-sensitive mammalian reovirus mutants to analyze virus assembly
- Proteomic and RNAi-mediated analyses of cellular proteins involved in coronavirus, herpesvirus, influenza virus, mammalian reovirus and Zika virus replication and pathogenesis
- Use of harmless mammalian reovirus as a biomarker for waste water and medical device disinfection
- Mechanistic analyses of modes of action of selected anti-viral compounds
Keywords
- Anti-virals
- Macromolecular structure-function
- Proteomics
- Virus-host interactions
Research affiliations
Research scientist, Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM)
Research groups
- Manitoba Centre for Proteomics & Systems Biology
- Manitoba Group in Protein Structure and Function
Research summary
Our laboratory studies virus structure, function, assembly, and pathogenesis. We use biologic, molecular genetic, and mass spectrometric methods to elucidate how mammalian reoviruses, avian reoviruses, human coronaviruses, Influenza A viruses, and Zika viruses interact with various host cells as models for understanding how multiple proteins and nucleic acids recognize each other and interact to generate a functionally active macromolecular complex, how these complexes interact with host cellular proteins, and how these interactions can be exploited through use of selected anti-viral agents to attenuate virus-induced infection and pathogenesis.
Biography
Dr. Kevin Coombs is a professor in medical microbiology and infectious diseases at the University of Manitoba.
Dr. Coombs’ major research interests are to delineate the protein and nucleic acid interactions in nucleoprotein complexes, using a variety of RNA viruses as models. His lab studies how these interactions change as a result of, and in turn, are modulated by, conformational transitions that occur during macromolecular assembly and disassembly, how these processes can be attenuated by anti-viral compounds, and how these processes in virus infections contribute to pathogenesis in the host. This work, which has been continuously funded by the MRC/CIHR since the year after he moved to Manitoba, is in general areas of:
- Generation and molecular characterization of assembly-defective virus mutants
- Inhibition of virus replication using pharmacologic inhibitors
- Mass spectrometry- and Systems-based analyses of virus and host protein alterations
- Molecular characterization of RNA-dependent RNA polymerases and cofactor proteins
- Development of non-pathogenic viruses as “bio-indicators” for wastewater and medical instrument disinfection management
Dr. Coombs has served on numerous local, national, and international grant funding panels. He has served in a variety of administrative roles, including as Chair for the CIHR Virology and Viral Pathogenesis panel, as acting and associate head for the department of medical microbiology; as associate dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies; and as associate and assistant dean of research in the Max Rady College of Medicine.
Education
- Post-doctoral Fellowship (Molecular Genetics), Harvard Medical School
- PhD (Microbiology), University of Texas/Austin
- MA (Microbiology), University of Texas/Austin
- BA (Biology and English), State University of New York/Geneseo
Awards
- Dr. Fred Aoki Career Achievement Award for outstanding service in at least three areas (2018)
- Faculty of Medicine Ed Kroeger Mentorship Award (2014)
- University Merit Award for Teaching (1999)
- Faculty of Medicine Graduate Student Association Mentorship Award (1997; inaugural recipient)
- Manitoba Health Research Council Scholar (1991 – 1994)
Contact us
Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
Max Rady College of Medicine
Room 543 - 745 Bannatyne Avenue
University of Manitoba (Bannatyne campus)
Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9 Canada
204-789-3299
204-789-3926