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Hazel Levy

Lecturer of Genetics

Ph.D., University of Florida, College of Medicine, 2005

51o Carr Hall
(352) 
hclevy@ufl.edu

Research Interests

Genetics and Medicine – I focus on virus structure and virus evolutionary genetics toward the development of novel therapies for disease. In both Picornaviruses (+ssRNA) and Parvoviruses (ssDNA), I use cryoEM and X-ray crystallographic data to examine the conformational changes that individual virus particles undergo in the early steps of a virus infection, including cell-receptor attachment and viral genome release.

Publication: Improved cell-specificity of adeno-associated viral vectors for medullary thyroid carcinoma using calcitonin gene regulatory elements. Hazel Levy, Danielle Hulvey, Laura Adamson-Small, Natacha Jn-Simon, Victor Prima, Scott Rivkees, Jacqueline A. Hobbs. PLoS One (2020) https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0228005.

Grant: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIH/NIAID). Grant number 1R21AI149304-01. Project title: Correlative Structure and Function Studies of Adeno-associated Virus Particles During Viral Genome Release. PIs Hazel Levy and Mavis Agbandje-McKenna. Institution: University of Florida (2020-2022).

Higher Education Policy and Administration – Promoting diverse and inclusive outcomes in education, through reworking access pathways to educational spaces, educational experiences, and to educational power needed to evolve those spaces and experiences (equity), is at the core of my teaching and research philosophies and activities. We can improve the integrity of academic science by advancing accessibility for a diversity of potential practitioners. To improve my own understanding of achieving teaching excellence through promoting learning equity, I study education theory and research, develop education policies and practices, and collaborate with others in a cross-disciplinary strategic community. I also create new scholarship and develop new theory.

Abstract: Spatial correlations across the United States between 90-year-old HOLC risk map boundaries and broadband access to education. Ben T. Skinner, Hazel C. Levy, Taylor Burtch. UF, College of Education. *Abstract for Association for Education Finance and Policy (AEFP) 2021.

Research Grant: University of Florida’s Racial Justice Research Fund. Recruitment and Retention of Black Faculty and the Politics of Race at UF. (2020-2021). Co-I with PI’s Professors Sharon Austin and Paul Ortiz

Representative Publications

  1. Improved cell-specificity of adeno-associated viral vectors for medullary thyroid carcinoma using calcitonin gene regulatory elements. Hazel Levy, Danielle Hulvey, Laura Adamson-Small, Natacha Jn-Simon, Victor Prima, Scott Rivkees, Jacqueline A. Hobbs. PLoS One (2020) https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0228005.
  2. Poliovirus RNA is protected from cleavage by RNase during virion uncoating and transfer across cellular and model membranes. Elisabetta Gropelli, Hazel C. Levy, Eileen Sun, James M. Hogle, Clare Nicol, Sarah Gold, Toby J. Tuthill, and David J. Rowlands. PLoS Pathogens (2017) https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1006197.
  3. RNA Transfer from Poliovirus 135S particles across membranes is mediated by long umbilical connector Mike Strauss, Hazel Levy, Mihnea Bostina, David J. Filman and James Hogle. Journal of Virology (2013) 87(7):3903.
  4. Poliovirus RNA is released from the capsid near a unique twofold symmetry axis: Asymmetric studies of non-enveloped virus uncoating. Mihnea Bostina, Hazel Levy, David Filman, James Hogle. *co-first authors. Journal of Virology, (2011) 85(2):776-83. Article selected by JVI as Spotlight Feature, and recommended by Faculty of 1000.
  5. Catching a virus in the act of RNA release: A novel poliovirus intermediate characterized by cryo-microscop Hazel C. Levy, Mihnea Bostina , David Filman, James Hogle. Journal of Virology, (2010) 84 (9): 4426-41.
  6. Cryo-electron microscopy & image reconstruction of AAV serotype 2-heparin sulfate oligosaccharide receptor complex. Hazel C. Levy, Valorie Bowman, Lakshmanan Govindasamy, Robert McKenna, Kevin Nash, Kenneth Warrington, Weijun Chen, Nicholas Muzyczka, Timothy S. Baker, Mavis Agbandje-McKenna. Journal of Structural Biology, March (2009) Volume 165 pp146-156. Art was selected for the cover of this issue of JSB.
  7. Production, purification, crystallization & preliminary X-ray structural studies of Adeno-Associated virus serotype 5. Michael DiMattia, Lakshmanan Govindasamy, Hazel Levy, Brittney Gurda-Whitaker, Amy Kalina, Erik Kohlbrenner, John A Chiorini, Robert McKenna, Nicholas Muzyczka, Sergei Zolotukhin & Mavis Agbandje-McKenna. Acta Cryst. (2005) F61:917-921.
  8. Strain identification of Spodoptera frugiperda insects & cell line: PCR-RFLP of cytochrome oxidase C subunit I gene. Hazel Levy, Alejandra Garcia-Maruniak and James E. Maruniak. Florida Entomologist. (2002) 85: 186-190.

Grants and Awards

University of Florida’s Racial Justice Research Fund. Recruitment and Retention of Black Faculty and the Politics of Race at UF. (2020-2021).

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIH/NIAID). Grant number 1R21AI149304-01. Project title: Correlative Structure and Function Studies of Adeno-associated Virus Particles During Viral Genome Release. PIs Hazel Levy and Mavis Agbandje-McKenna. Institution: University of Florida (2020-2022).

Gerardo M. and Marjorie A. Gonzalez Fellowship. For research related to the role of freedom of speech, academic freedom, or student rights in academe. College of Education, University of Florida (2019).

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NIH/NHLBI), Investigator Research Supplement to Promote Workplace Diversity. Grant number R01HL097088-06S1. Project title: Next Generation of Recombinant AAV Serotype Vectors for Gene Therapy. PIs Arun Srivastava, Roland Herzog, Sergei Zolotukhin. Institution: University of Florida (2016-2019).

Teaching

My interests in teaching go beyond delivering quality content for student consumption. I work to promote learning through a diversity of interactions and learning modes:

UF Biology Courses I have taught include:

BSC 2005 -Biological Sciences

BSC 2010 – Integrated Principles of Biology 1

BSC 2011 – Integrated Principles of Biology 2

PCB 3063 – Genetics

ZOO 3603C – Evolutionary Developmental Biology