Dr. Jenny Hyde leads and performs basic research centered on virus-host interactions at WashU Medicine Division of Infectious Diseases. Her research has focused on understanding how viral RNA structure shapes virus-host interactions, particularly in mosquito-borne alphaviruses, and how these interactions influence immune evasion, viral emergence, transmission, and disease pathogenesis. Her work combines molecular virology and RNA biology to uncover the mechanisms by which viral RNA structures regulate RNA-protein interactions, with the goal of identifying new therapeutic targets and advancing antiviral and vaccine development. While centered on emerging viral pathogens, Dr. Hyde’s research has broader applications to RNA biology across infectious and non-infectious diseases.
Dr. Hyde first joined WashU Medicine as a post-doctoral research associate in the Diamond Lab in 2011. She then served as Assistant Professor in Microbiology at University of Washington, Seattle, WA from 2016 until 2026 before returning to WashU as a faculty member.
- Bachelor of Science (Honors Class I) in Microbiology, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia (2005)
- PhD in Virology, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia (2011)
- Post-doctoral Research Associate, Department of Infectious Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri (2011-2016)
- Hickson SE, Brekke E, Schwerk J, Saluhke I, Zaver S, Woodward J, Savan R, Hyde JL. Sequence Diversity in the 3′ Untranslated Region of Alphavirus Modulates IFIT2-Dependent Restriction in a Cell Type-Dependent Manner. J Interferon Cytokine Res. 2025 Apr; 45(4):133-149. doi: 10.1089/jir.2024.0229. Epub 2025 Mar 12. PubMed PMID: 40079162; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC12491954.
- Aktepe TE, Deerain JM, Hyde JL, Fritzlar S, Mead EM, Carrera Montoya J, Hachani A, Pearson JS, White PA, Mackenzie JM. Norovirus-mediated translation repression promotes macrophage cell death. PLoS Pathog. 2024 Sep; 20(9):e1012480. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012480. eCollection 2024 Sep. PubMed PMID: 39226332; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC11398682.
- Hickson SE, Hyde JL. RNA structures within Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus E1 alter macrophage replication fitness and contribute to viral emergence. PLoS Pathog. 2024 Sep; 20(9):e1012179. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012179. eCollection 2024 Sep. PubMed PMID: 39331659; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC11463830.