The article, “,” continues the Rivera-Serrano Lab’s work exploring the potential of reoviruses as cancer-targeting agents. The study examined a panel of genetically distinct reoviruses across three epithelial cancer cell models. The work found that different reovirus strains showed cell line-dependent patterns of infectivity and cancer cell killing, with some reassortant viruses showing enhanced activity compared with parental strains. The findings suggest that the effectiveness of reovirus-based cancer-targeting approaches may depend not only on viral genetics, but also on the specific cancer cell context.

Reoviruses are being studied as potential oncolytic agents, or viruses that preferentially infect and kill cancer cells. While much of the field has focused on one prototype strain, the Elon study highlights the importance of exploring broader reovirus genetic diversity. Because reoviruses contain segmented genomes, different strains can exchange genome segments through a process known as reassortment, generating viruses with new combinations of traits that may influence infection, replication and cytotoxicity.

The article reinforces the value of comparative screens in cancer virotherapy research. The study found that viral infectivity and cancer cell killing did not always fully overlap, suggesting that efficient infection alone does not necessarily predict how strongly a virus will reduce cancer cell viability. Instead, the findings point to a more complex relationship among viral entry, replication, antiviral responses and cell death pathways.

The project builds on ongoing research in Rivera-Serrano’s laboratory, where �þ��� students use cell biology, virology and immunology approaches to understand how viral genetics influence cancer cell susceptibility. Hutchinson, the article’s first author and Nursing major, contributed to experimental work and data analysis as part of his mentored research experience in the lab for three semesters and participation in Elon’s 2025 Summer Undergraduate Research Experience.

Carter, who performed research as a visiting high school student in the summer of 2025, contributed to data analysis, highlighting the lab’s broader commitment to expanding access to biomedical research experiences beyond the �þ��� level. Dagli, who recently co-authored a related study in Virus Genes on reovirus reassortants with enhanced activity against fibrosarcoma cells, also contributed to the current work as part of the lab’s continuing effort to evaluate how viral genetic diversity shapes oncolytic potential.

The article shares findings from a two-year �þ��� research project led by Dagli while at Elon. The study identified genetically diverse reoviruses with enhanced oncolytic potential against fibrosarcoma, a type of cancer that arises in connective tissue. By focusing on viruses that preferentially infect and kill cancer cells, the work advances ongoing efforts to explore new strategies for cancer treatment.

Dagli completed four semesters of mentored research in Rivera-Serrano’s laboratory and participated in Elon’s Summer Undergraduate Research Experience in 2024. She received internal and external funding for her work and presented her research at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research in Pittsburgh, the annual meeting of the American Association of Immunologists in Honolulu, and multiple local venues. She was selected as an Elon’s Provost Scholar, and received the Acorn to Oak Senior Award by the Biology Department in 2025 for her growth during her �þ��� years and contributions to the department.

Dagli is currently completing a postbaccalaureate research experience at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland, where she is continuing to build expertise in virology and immunology research as she prepares for the next stage of her career as a health professional. Her current work includes HTLV (Human T-lymphotropic virus 1)-related diagnostic research under the mentorship of Steven Jacobson, allowing her to continue building expertise in virology and translational biomedical science.

This research has been supported by Elon’s Undergraduate Research Program (URP), including Grants-in-Aid support and Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) funds that supported the work of Charlotte Dagli ’25, Ryder Hutchinson ’28 and Alice Efremov ’26, all of whom are co-authors on the research publication. Travel assistance for the conference was also provided by Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Biology Department Gift Fund.

Lab attendees included Ryder Hutchinson ’28, Alice Efremov ’26, Alex Roberts ’27, Kalialani Choate ’28 and Zach Stein ’29. In addition to attending conference sessions and supporting the lab’s presentation, the trip served as the group’s first laboratory retreat, giving students an opportunity to strengthen connections as a research team through shared meals, informal mentoring and a visit to the Georgia Aquarium before returning to North Carolina.

Dagli presented the product of two years of research on the use of viruses to target and kill specific cancer cells. Her poster, titled “Oncolytic virotherapy and chemotherapeutic approaches against malignant fibrosarcoma,” explores the use of Reovirus as a therapeutic agent against a rare, soft tissue cancer that affects connective tissues such as tendons and ligaments. Her work demonstrates that certain variants of this virus,currently in clinical trials for common cancers such as breast and colorectal malignancies, are able to infect and kill human fibrosarcoma cells grown in vitro. In addition, she explored the potential of combining reovirus with common chemotherapeutic agents to maximize efficacy at minimal doses.

Rivera-Serrano also presented a poster, entitled “Development of Laboratory Modules in Virology Suitable for the Undergraduate Classroom.” His work is inspired by the American Society for Virology, which recently provided guidelines for lecture- and laboratory-based content for courses in virology. Despite the increasing rates of vaccine hesitancy, rampant misinformation related to infectious diseases and overall distrust in biomedical research, stand-alone courses that focus on the biology of viruses at the �þ��� level are uncommon across the globe. The research presented by Rivera-Serrano aims to develop laboratory activities for students at predominantly �þ��� institutions to better understand the unique biology of viruses and how these infectious agents interact with the host at the cellular level.

Dagli is the recipient of a 2024 Undergraduate Research Award from North Carolina Independent Colleges & Universities (NCICU) and participated in Elon’s 2024 SURE program. Upon graduation, Charlotte will join the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, MD as part of their Postbaccalaureate Program (PBP). Their research was sponsored by an Elon’s Hultquist Faculty Research & Development Award and the Undergraduate Research Program. Both Dagli and Rivera-Serrano received Undergraduate Faculty Travel Grants, sponsored by AAI, to support travel costs.