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Michael A . Belshan, PhD

Professor

Medical Microbiology and Immunology

M Belshan

Contact

MichaelBelshan@creighton.edu
School of Medicine
Med Microbiology & Immunology
Medical Microbiology and Immunology (Doctorate)
Medical Microbiology and Immunology (Master of Science)
Graduate School
CRISS II - Criss 2 - 514D

Michael A . Belshan, PhD

Professor

Medical Microbiology and Immunology

My fundamental research interest is virus-host cell interactions, specifically related to the replication and pathogenesis of the lentivirus subfamily of retroviruses. Members of this subfamily include the human and simian immunodeficiency viruses (HIV and SIV, respectively). I have a broad background in molecular virology and extensive experience studying retroviruses including an established record of productive research projects in retroviral studies, including molecular virology, proteomic studies, and in vitro drug testing. I also have experience in molecular virology, including retroviral and lentiviral gene delivery systems as well as RNAi and CRISPR.

Examples of the most recent publications can be found at this PubMed link.

Research Focus

 HIV Molecular Virology and Host Cell Interactions
  •  Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the causative agent of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). HIV infection is incurable, but treatment with a combination of anti-retroviral drugs can reduce virus replication to undetectable levels and forestall disease progression. However drug resistance to the existing pool of anti-retroviral therapies continues to rise. Continued success in the repression of HIV replication in infected individuals will require the development of new inhibitors that are effective against drug-resistant strains of virus. Drugs that target novel areas of virus replication have the greatest probability to be effective against such viruses.
  •  My laboratory seeks to comprehend poorly understood aspects of HIV replication by discovery of novel virus-host interactions using systems biology approaches. The ultimate goal is to identify new targets for anti-viral therapies. All areas of HIV replication can have potential cellular targets, including virus uncoating, preintegration complex (PIC) assembly and transport, viral transcriptional regulation, and virus assembly and release.
Major Areas of Research
  •  Proteomic studies to identify novel virus-host interactions.
  • Characterization of novel host cell factors that contribute to HIV replication and pathogenesis.
  • Molecular biology of HIV replication.
  • In vitro drug testing.
  •  Our mass spectrometry analysis is done in collaboration with Dr. Pawel Ciborowski at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
  • We also collaborate with Dr. Christopher Destache in the Creighton University School of Pharmacy on the development of novel nanoparticle formulations to inhibit HIV replication.
  • Our laboratory is affiliated with the Nebraska Center for Virology a Center of Biomedical Research Excellence formed in the fall of 2000 under the National Institutes of Health Institutional Development Award program. The Center links the virology programs of Creighton University, the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, and the University of Nebraska Medical Center and conducts innovative research that addresses fundamental questions about the pathogenesis and replication of diverse viral agents that effect human, animal, and plant health.

Department

Med. Microbiology & Immunology

Position

Professor

Articles

  • Nanomaterials
    Destache, C.J., Mandal, S., Sunagawa, S.W., Prathipati, P.K., Belshan, M., Shibata, A., and C.J. Destache. 2022. Targeted Immuno-Antiretroviral to Promote Dual Protection against HIV: A Proof-of-Concept Study. Nanomaterials. 12:1942.
    12, p. 1942 2022
  • Frontiers in Microbiology
    Belshan, M., Siedlik, J.A., Watson, C.J., Raine, M.A., Cheng, A.V., Goering, R.V., Stessman, H.A.F., and M. Belshan. 2022. Epidemiologic and genmic analysis of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 epidemic in the Nebraska region of the United States, March 2020-2021. Frontiers in Microbiology. 13:878342.
    13, p. 878342 2022
  • Proteomics
    Ciborowski, P., Macur, K., S. Zieschang, S. Lei, B. Morsey, S. Jaquet, M. Belshan, H.S. Fox, and P. Ciborowski. 2021. SWATH-MS and MRM: Quantification of Ras-related proteins in HIV-1 Infected and Methamphetamine-Exposed Human Monocyte-Derived Macrophages (hMDM).
    21(15), p. e2100005 2021
  • PLoS One
    West, J.T., Tso, F.Y., S.J. Lidenge, L.K Poppe, P.B. Peña, S.R. Privatt, S.J. Bennett, J.R. Ngowi, J. Mwaiselage, M. Belshan, J.A. Siedlik, M.A. Raine, P.A. Kozlowski, J.B. Ochoa, J. Garcia, R. Nossaman, L. Buckner, W.M. Roberts, M.J. Dean, A.C. Ochoa, J.T. West, and C. Wood. 2021. Presence of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) against SARS-CoV-2 in COVID-19 plasma.
    16(3), p. e0247640 2021
  • Virology
    Belshan, M., M. Belshan, A. Holbrook, J.W. George, H.E. Durant, M. Callahan II, S. Jaquet, J.T. West, J. Siedlik, and P. Ciborowski. 2021. Discovery of Candidate HIV-1 Latency Biomarkers Using an OMICs Approach
    558, p. 86-95 2021
  • Physiological Reports
    Siedlik, J.A., Holbrook, A.K., H.D. Peterson, S.A. Bianchi, B.W. Macdonald, E.C. Bredahl, M. Belshan, and J.A. Siedlik. 2019. CD4+ T cell activation and associated susceptibility to HIV-1 infection in vitro increased following acute resistance exercise in human subjects.
    7, p. e14234 2019
  • Antiviral Research
    Destache, C.J., Mandal, S., P.K. Prathipati, M. Belshan, and C.J. Destache. 2019. A potential long-acting bictegravir loaded nano-drug delivery system for HIV-1 infection: A proof-of-concept study.
    167, p. 83-88 2019
  • Virology
    DeBoer, J., M.S. Wojtkiewicz, N. Haverland, Y. Li, E. Harwood, E. Leshen, J.W. George, P. Ciborowski, and M. Belshan. Proteomic profiling of HIV-infected T-cells by SWATH mass spectrometry.
    516, p. 246-257 2018
  • Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy
    Mandal S., Belshan M., Holec A., Zhou Y., and C.J.Destache. An Enhanced Emtricitabine-Loaded Long-Acting Nanoformulation for Prevention or Treatment of HIV Infection. 
    61(1), p. e01475-16 2017
  • Viruses
    Li, Y, and M. Belshan. NF45 and NF90 Bind HIV-1 RNA and Modulate HIV Gene Expression.
    8(2), p. E47 2016
  • Virology
    DeBoer, J., C.J. Madson, and M. Belshan. Cyclophilin B enhances HIV-1 infection.
    489, p. 282-291 2016
  • Proteomics Clinical Applications
    Li Y, K.M. Frederick, N.A. Haverland, P. Ciborowski, M. Belshan. Investigation of the HIV-1 Matrix interactome during virus replication.
    10(2), p. 156-63 2016
  • PLoS Pathogens
    Kovarova M, O.D. Council, A.A. Date, J.M. Long, T. Nochii, M. Belshan, A. Shibata, H. Vincent, C.E. Baker, W.O. Thayer, G. Kraus, S. Lachaud-Durand, P. Williams, C.J. Destache, J.V. Garcia. Nanoformulations of Rilpivirine for Topical Pericoital and Systemic Coitus-Independent Administration Efficiently Prevent HIV Transmission.
    11(8), p. e1005075 2015
  • Journal of Biomedical Nanotechnology
    Date, A.D., A. Shibata, E. McMullen, K. La Bruzzo, P. Bruck, M. Belshan, Y. Zhou, and C.J. Destache. Thermosensitive Gel Containing Cellulose Acetate Phthalate-Efavirenz Combination Nanoparticles for Prevention of HIV-1 Infection.
    11, p. 416-427 2015
  • Journal of Biomedical Nanotechnology
    Date, A.D., A. Shibata, E. McMullen, K. La Bruzzo, P. Bruck, M. Belshan, Y. Zhou, and C.J. Destache. Thermosensitive Gel Containing Cellulose Acetate Phthalate-Efavirenz Combination Nanoparticles for Prevention of HIV-1 Infection.
    11(3), p. 416-27 2015
  • Virology
    DeBoer, J., T. Jagadish, N.A. Haverland, C.J. Madson, P. Ciborowski, and M. Belshan. Alterations in the nuclear proteome of HIV-1 infected T-cells.
    468-470, p. 409-420 2014
  • Virology
    Sanford, B., Y. Li, C.J. Maly, C.J. Madson, H. Chen, Y. Zhou, and M. Belshan. Deletions in the fifth alpha helix of HIV-1 Matrix block virus release.
    468-470, p. 293-302 2014

Presentations

  • HIV: Quest for a cure 2018
  • CypB stimulates HIV infection 2015
  • TM261: A Viral Study Led Astray 2015
  • Proteomic Approaches to Study HIV-Host Interactions 2014
  • SWATH-MS Analysis of HIV-1 Infected Jurkat T-cells 2014
  • Inbre Student Jessica Haight in Grand Island, NE 2006

Awards

  • Young Investigator Award
    Creighton University School of Medicine
  • Research Excellence Award
    Iowa State University Graduate College

Consulting

  • Infectious Disease Scientific Director
    Advisory
    Nebraska Institutional Development Awards (IDeA) Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE Program)
    2021 - 2025
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