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Microbiology and Immunology
Stritch School of Medicine
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Alexsia Richards, PhD

Assistant Professor

Microbiology & Immunology

Research Interests:

  • Use of human pluripotent stem cell–derived cells and tissues to model viral infection of the central nervous system (CNS)

Education

PhD Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
Medical College of Wisconsin

Research Interests

The Richards Lab uses human pluripotent stem cell–derived cells and tissues to model viral infection of the central nervous system (CNS). By gaining deeper insight into the cell-type-specific responses to virus infection, we hope to identify the cell types responsible for the pathology associated with CNS infection and uncover novel therapeutic targets that can help control infection while minimizing collateral damage to neural tissue.

Publications/Research Listings

1. Richards A., Khalil A., Bisht P., Whitfield TW., Gao X., Kamm R., Gehrke L., Mooney D, Jaenisch R.
A novel human blood brain barrier model reveals pericytes as critical regulators of viral neuroinvasion
(Under Review at iScience)

2. Richards A, Khalil A, Friesen M, Whitfield TW, Lungjangwa T, Gehrke L, Mooney D, Jaenisch R.
SARS-CoV-2 infection of human pluripotent stem cell-derived vascular cells reveals smooth muscle cells
as key mediators of vascular pathology during infection. bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2023 Aug
7:2023.08.06.552160. doi: 10.1101/2023.08.06.552160. PMID: 37609322; PMCID: PMC10441287.

3. Richards A, Friesen, M, Khalil A, Barrasa MI, Gehrke L, Jaenisch R. SARS-CoV-2 infection of human
pluripotent stem cell-derived liver organoids reveals potential mechanisms of liver pathology. iScience
doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105146. Epub 2022 Sep 16. PMID: 36128218; PMCID: PMC9477603

4. Abo KM, Sainz de Aja J, Lindstrom-Vautrin J, Alysandratos KD, Richards A, Garcia-de-Alba C, Huang
J, Hix OT, Werder RB, Bullitt E, Hinds A, Falconer I, Villacorta-Martin C, Jaenisch R, Kim CF, Kotton
DN, Wilson AA. Air-liquid interface culture promotes maturation and allows environmental exposure of
pluripotent stem cell-derived alveolar epithelium. JCI Insight. 2022 Mar 22;7(6):e155589. doi:
10.1172/jci.insight.155589. PMID: 35315362; PMCID: PMC8986076.

5. Zhang L, Richards A, Barrasa MI, Hughes SH, Young RA, Jaenisch R. Reverse-transcribed SARS-CoV-
2 RNA can integrate into the genome of cultured human cells and can be expressed in patient-derived
tissues. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2021 May 25;118(21):e2105968118. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2105968118.
PMID: 33958444; PMCID: PMC8166107.

6. Richards AL, Sollars PJ, Pitts JD, Heldwein EE, Pickard GE, Smith GA. Identification and mutation of
a critical neuroinvasive determinant affords a vaccination strategy against neurotropic herpesviruses. Plos
Pathogens. 2017 Dec 7; 13(12):e1006741. PMCID: PMC5749899

7. Richards AL, Sollars PJ, Smith GA. New tools to convert bacterial artificial chromosomes to a selfexcising
design and their application to a herpes simplex virus type 1 infectious clone. BMC Biotechnol.
2016 Aug 31; 16(1): 64-016-0295-4. PMCID: PMC5006514.

8. Huffmaster NJ, Sollars PJ, Richards AL, Pickard GE, Smith GA. Dynamic ubiquitination drives
herpesvirus neuroinvasion. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2015 Oct 13; 112(41): 12818-12823. PMCID:
PMC4611658.
9. Pitts JD, Klabis J, Richards AL, Smith GA, Heldwein EE. Crystal structure of the herpesvirus inner
tegument protein UL37 supports its essential role in control of viral trafficking. J Virol. 2014 May; 88(10):
5462-5473. PMCID: PMC4019128.

10. Richards AL, Soares-Martins JA, Riddell GT, Jackson WT. Generation of unique poliovirus RNA
replication organelles. MBio. 2014 Feb 25; 5(2): e00833-13. PMCID: PMC3940031.

11. Richards AL, Jackson WT. Intracellular vesicle acidification promotes maturation of infectious
poliovirus particles. PLoS Pathogens. 2012; 8(11): e1003046. PMCID: PMC3510256.

Review Articles
1. Richards A, Jaenisch R. Starting signal: Aberrant kinase activation as a trigger for SARS-CoV-2 induced
axonal damage. Front. Virol. 2:973997. doi: 10.3389/fviro.2022.973997

2. Richards A, Berth SH, Brady S, Morfini G. Engagement of Neurotropic Viruses in Fast Axonal
Transport: Mechanisms, Potential Role of Host Kinases and Implications for Neuronal Dysfunction. Front
Cell Neurosci. 2021 Jun 21;15:684762. doi: 10.3389/fncel.2021.684762. PMID: 34234649; PMCID:
PMC8255969.

3. Richards AL, Jackson WT. How positive-strand RNA viruses benefit from autophagosome maturation.
J Virol. 2013 Sep; 87(18): 9966-9972. PMCID: PMC3754026.

4. Richards AL, Jackson WT. That which does not degrade you makes you stronger: Infectivity of
poliovirus depends on vesicle acidification. Autophagy. 2013 May; 9(5): 806-807. PMCID: PMC3669197.