Melodie L. Weller

Melodie L. Weller, PhD

Languages spoken: English

Academic Information

Departments Adjunct - Pathology

Academic Office Information

Melodie.Weller@hsc.utah.edu

Research Interests

  • Kolmioviridae Discovery
  • Hepatitis Delta Virus
  • Virology
  • Autoimmune Diseases
  • Oral Health
  • Infectious Disease
  • Infectious Disease Surveillance

Dr. Melodie Weller is a research scientist and educator specializing in virology, oral-systemic disease, and pathogen discovery. Her interdisciplinary research program focuses on understanding how viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens contribute to chronic inflammatory diseases, with a particular emphasis on the oral cavity as a reservoir and indicator of systemic disease.

Her lab has pioneered studies identifying novel variants of Hepatitis Delta Virus (HDV) in salivary gland tissues of patients with Sjogren’s disease, independent of Hepatitis B Virus co-infection. This work extends to characterizing satellite RNA viruses within the Kolmioviridae family and exploring their potential plant origins and cross-kingdom transmission. She also leads investigations into the oral microbiome and its impact on autoimmune disease, integrating large-scale epidemiologic data with molecular approaches.

In the clinical and teaching arenas, Dr. Weller is committed to advancing diagnostic tools for oral disease, training the next generation of scientists, and promoting translational research that bridges dentistry, immunology, and infectious disease. She actively mentors undergraduate and graduate students and collaborates across disciplines to uncover environmental and microbial contributors to systemic autoimmune conditions.

Education History

Fellowship National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health
 Research Fellow
Postdoctoral Fellowship National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health
 Postdoctoral Fellow
Doctoral Training University of Montana
 PhD
Undergraduate Central Washington University
 BS
Undergraduate Central Washington University
 BS

Selected Publications

Journal Article

  1. Hesterman MC, Fallon BS, Lynch KM, Weller ML (2023). Growing Awareness: Limited Testing and Screening Bias for Hepatitis Delta Virus in Utah 2000-2021. J Infect Dis, 230(3), e679-e683. (Read full article)
  2. Assadi-Rad M, Acosta BE, Hesterman MC, Fallon BS, Hill RL, Farnsworth EW, Barbeau B, Vilven D, Lynch KM, Weller ML (2024). Hepatitis Delta Virus Reporting Requirements in the United States and Territories: A Systematic Review. Open Forum Infect Dis, 11(4), ofae076. (Read full article)
  3. Hesterman MC, Furrer SV, Fallon BS, Weller ML (2023). Analysis of Hepatitis D Virus in Minor Salivary Gland of Sjögren's Disease. J Dent Res, 102(11), 1272-1279. (Read full article)
  4. Maximova OA, Weller ML, Krogmann T, Sturdevant DE, Ricklefs S, Virtaneva K, Martens C, Wollenberg K, Minai M, Moore IN, Sauter CS, Barker JN, Lipkin WI, Seilhean D, Nath A, Cohen JI (2023). Pathogenesis and outcome of VA1 astrovirus infection in the human brain are defined by disruption of neural functions and imbalanced host immune responses. PLoS Pathog, 19(8), e1011544. (Read full article)
  5. Fallon BS, Cooke EM, Hesterman MC, Norseth JS, Akhundjanov SB, Weller ML (2023). A changing landscape: Tracking and analysis of the international HDV epidemiology 1999-2020. PLOS Glob Public Health, 3(4), e0000790. (Read full article)
  6. Weller, ML (July/August 2022). Oral Health Changes Reported in 70% of Utahn Long-COVID Patients. UDA Action, (July/August 2022).
  7. Fallon BS, Chase TJ, Cooke EM, Ghazitabatabaei A, Naylor NO, Cutshall JJ, Trump BG, Weller ML (2021). The use of BokaFlo™ instrument to measure salivary flow. BMC Oral Health, 21(1), 191. (Read full article)
  8. Weller ML, Gardener MR, Bogus ZC, Smith MA, Astorri E, Michael DG, Michael DA, Zheng C, Burbelo PD, Lai Z, Wilson PA, Swaim W, Handelman B, Afione SA, Bombardieri M, Chiorini JA (2016). Hepatitis Delta Virus Detected in Salivary Glands of Sjögren's Syndrome Patients and Recapitulates a Sjögren's Syndrome-Like Phenotype in Vivo. Pathog Immun, 1(1), 12-40. (Read full article)
  9. Gan L, OHanlon TP, Lai Z, Fannin R, Weller ML, Rider LG, Chiorini JA, Miller FW (2015). Gene Expression Profiles from Disease Discordant Twins Suggest Shared Antiviral Pathways and Viral Exposures among Multiple Systemic Autoimmune Diseases. PLoS One, 10(11), e0142486. (Read full article)
  10. Li Q, Wilkie AR, Weller M, Liu X, Cohen JI (2015). THY-1 Cell Surface Antigen (CD90) Has an Important Role in the Initial Stage of Human Cytomegalovirus Infection. PLoS Pathog, 11(7), e1004999. (Read full article)
  11. Yin H, Cabrera-Perez J, Lai Z, Michael D, Weller M, Swaim W, Liu X, Cataln MA, Rocha EM, Ismail N, Afione S, Rana N, Di Pasquale G, Alevizos I, Ambudkar I, Illei GG, Chiorini JA (2013). BMP6 is associated with exocrine gland dysfunction in Sjögren's syndrome patients and mice. Arthritis & Rheumatology, 65(12), 3228-38.
  12. Michael D, Soi S, Cabera-Perez J, Weller M, Alexander S, Alevizos I, Illei G, Chiorini J (2011). Microarray analysis of sexually dimorphic gene expression in human minor salivary glands. Oral Dis, 17(7), 653-61. (Read full article)
  13. Brindley MA, Hunt CL, Kondratowicz AS, Bowman J, Sinn PL, McCray PB Jr, Quinn K, Weller ML, Chiorini JA, Maury W (2011). Tyrosine kinase receptor Axl enhances entry of Zaire ebolavirus without direct interactions with the viral glycoprotein. Virology, 415(2), 83-94. (Read full article)
  14. Kondratowicz AS, Lennemann NJ, Sinn PL, Davey RA, Hunt CL, Moller-Tank S, Meyerholz DK, Rennert P, Mullins RF, Brindley M, Sandersfeld LM, Quinn K, Weller M, McCray PB Jr, Chiorini J, Maury W (2011). T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 1 (TIM-1) is a receptor for Zaire Ebolavirus and Lake Victoria Marburgvirus. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 108(20), 8426-31. (Read full article)
  15. Weller ML, Amornphimoltham P, Schmidt M, Wilson PA, Gutkind JS, Chiorini JA (2010). Epidermal growth factor receptor is a co-receptor for adeno-associated virus serotype 6. Nat Med, 16(6), 662-4. (Read full article)
  16. Quinn K, Brindley MA, Weller ML, Kaludov N, Kondratowicz A, Hunt CL, Sinn PL, McCray PB Jr, Stein CS, Davidson BL, Flick R, Mandell R, Staplin W, Maury W, Chiorini JA (2009). Rho GTPases modulate entry of Ebola virus and vesicular stomatitis virus pseudotyped vectors. J Virol, 83(19), 10176-86. (Read full article)
  17. Weller ML, Stone IM, Goss A, Rau T, Rova C, Poulsen DJ (2008). Selective overexpression of excitatory amino acid transporter 2 (EAAT2) in astrocytes enhances neuroprotection from moderate but not severe hypoxia-ischemia. Neuroscience, 155(4), 1204-11. (Read full article)

Patent

  1. Chiorini J, Yin H, Weller M (2017). Methods for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Sjogren's Syndrome. U.S. Patent No. 10864285. Washington, D.C.:U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
  2. Chiorini J, Weller M (2013). Role of Novel Hepatitis Delta Virus Variant in Sjogren’s Syndrome. U.S. Patent No. 61/888,706. Washington, D.C.:U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
  3. Chiorini J, Weller M (2010). Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) and Methods of Use in Adenoviral-Associated Virus Type 6 (AAV6) Transduction. U.S. Patent No. 20120064038. Washington, D.C.:U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.