In July of 2024, Marley was awarded a three-year NIH F31 grant totaling $138,421 from the National Institute of 
Dental and Craniofacial Research for her project entitled “Role of FOXK Subfamily in KSHV Infection.” Marley, a fourth year PhD candidate, is mentored by Dr. Bernadett Papp in the Department of Oral Biology. Her research delves into the role of the viral factor ORF45 and its interaction with the cellular Forkhead proteins FOXK1 and FOXK2, aiming to elucidate their influence on the KSHV lytic cycle. ORF45, a crucial immediate early virion-associated protein, plays a vital role in lytic reactivation and virus production. By dissecting the interactions between FOXK proteins and ORF45 during gammaherpesvirus infections, Marley’s work seeks to identify conserved viral mechanisms that drive the gammaherpesvirus life cycle and pathogenesis, ultimately contributing to the development of potential therapeutic targets.
Marley Palmer joined the University of Florida as a Ph.D. student in the Fall of 2021, following the completion of her bachelor’s degree in Microbiology at the University of Georgia. During her undergraduate studies, Marley was deeply involved in a variety of research projects, ranging from the development of nitric oxide-releasing polymers to exploring the mechanisms of nitric oxide resistance in fungi. She also gained valuable experience working in a commercial brewery lab, where she focused on identifying bacterial contaminants in beer.
Upon her arrival at UF, Marley’s research interests began to crystallize around the study of host-pathogen interactions, particularly in the context of viral infections and cancer. This interest led her to join Dr. Bernadett Papp’s lab in the Fall of 2021. In Dr. Papp’s lab, Marley’s research is dedicated to uncovering key novel host-pathogen interactions associated with Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). Her work in this area has been further supported by the T90 Oral Biology Training grant during her third year. Additionally, Marley is actively involved in the Microbiology Graduate Student Organization (MGSO), where she serves as the Co-chair of recruitment for the upcoming academic year.