Varsani Lab - the viral kind
We are a wild 'viral' molecular virology research group that works across ecosystems studying viral dynamics.
Our broader objectives are to
- Study viral dynamics in Ross Sea (Antarctica) ecosystem which is recognised as anthropogenically the least-altered marine system on the planet with no evidence indicating introduction or range expansion of any species thus far, despite its changing physical environment.
- Unravel the viral evolutionary dynamics as a consequence of climate change.
- Study viral ecological interaction networks within a microbiome to unravel the dynamics of pathogen emergence.
Arvind Varsani
I am a molecular virologist who works across ecosystems from plants to animals and from the tropics to the Antarctic. My research uses a combination of traditional virology, microscopy (including transmission electron microscopy), molecular and cellular biology techniques in conjunction with modern sequencing techniques, synthetic biology and bioinformatics to characterise viruses and understand their dynamics.
Arizona State University, Tempe, USA
07/2016 - Current: Associate Professor at the Biodesign Institute and School of Life Sciences
University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
02/2009 - 07/2016: Senior lecturer / researcher in School of Biological Sciences
University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
07/2003 - 09/2008: Lecturer in the Structural Biology Research Unit
University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
1998 - 2003: PhD in Molecular and cell biology
Loughborough University, Loughborough, England
1993 - 1997: BSc, DIS in Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Publications
Genome sequences of novel torque teno viruses identified in human brain tissue
Genome sequences of novel torque teno viruses identified in human brain tissue Kraberger, S., Mastroeni, D., Delvaux, E. & Varsani, A., Sep 2020, In : Microbiology Resource Announcements. 9, 37, e00924-20. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
Transmission of the bean-associated cytorhabdovirus by the whitefly bemisia tabaci MEAM1
Transmission of the bean-associated cytorhabdovirus by the whitefly bemisia tabaci MEAM1 Pinheiro-Lima, B., Pereira-Carvalho, R. C., Alves-Freitas, D. M. T., Kitajima, E. W., Vidal, A. H., Lacorte, C., Godinho, M. T., Fontenele, R. S., Faria, J. C., Abreu, E. F. M., Varsani, A., Ribeiro, S. G. & Melo, F. L., Sep 2020, In : Viruses. … Read more
Novel Circoviruses Detected in Feces of Sonoran Felids
Novel Circoviruses Detected in Feces of Sonoran Felids Payne, N., Kraberger, S., Fontenele, R. S., Schmidlin, K., Bergeman, M. H., Cassaigne, I., Culver, M., Varsani, A. & Van Doorslaer, K., Sep 15 2020, In : Viruses. 12, 9 Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
Identification and distribution of novel cressdnaviruses and circular molecules in four penguin species in south georgia and the antarctic peninsula
Identification and distribution of novel cressdnaviruses and circular molecules in four penguin species in south georgia and the antarctic peninsula Levy, H., Fontenele, R. S., Harding, C., Suazo, C., Kraberger, S., Schmidlin, K., Djurhuus, A., Black, C. E., Hart, T., Smith, A. L. & Varsani, A., Sep 2020, In : Viruses. 12, 9, 1029. Research … Read more
Diverse genomoviruses representing twenty-nine species identified associated with plants
Diverse genomoviruses representing twenty-nine species identified associated with plants Fontenele, R. S., Roumagnac, P., Richet, C., Kraberger, S., Stainton, D., Aleamotu‘a, M., Filloux, D., Bernardo, P., Harkins, G. W., McCarthy, J., Charles, L. S., Lamas, N. S., Abreu, E. F. M., Abreu, R. A., Batista, G. B., Lacerda, A. L. M., Salywon, A., Wojciechowski, M. … Read more
Identification of Circovirus Genome in a Chinstrap Penguin (Pygoscelis antarcticus) and Adélie Penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) on the Antarctic Peninsula
Identification of Circovirus Genome in a Chinstrap Penguin (Pygoscelis antarcticus) and Adélie Penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) on the Antarctic Peninsula Levy, H., Fiddaman, S. R., Djurhuus, A., Black, C. E., Kraberger, S., Smith, A. L., Hart, T. & Varsani, A., Aug 6 2020, In : Viruses. 12, 8 Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
