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
Diverse cressdnaviruses and an anellovirus identified in the fecal samples of yellow-bellied marmots
Diverse cressdnaviruses and an anellovirus identified in the fecal samples of yellow-bellied marmotsKhalifeh, A., Blumstein, D. T., Fontenele, R. S., Schmidlin, K., Richet, C., Kraberger, S. & Varsani, A., Feb 2021, In: Virology. 554, p. 89-96 8 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
VIRIDIC-A Novel Tool to Calculate the Intergenomic Similarities of Prokaryote-Infecting Viruses
VIRIDIC-A Novel Tool to Calculate the Intergenomic Similarities of Prokaryote-Infecting Viruses Moraru, C., Varsani, A. & Kropinski, A. M., Nov 6 2020, In: Viruses. 12, 11 Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Risk assessment of SARS-CoV-2 in Antarctic wildlife
Risk assessment of SARS-CoV-2 in Antarctic wildlife Barbosa, A., Varsani, A., Morandini, V., Grimaldi, W., Vanstreels, R. E. T., Diaz, J. I., Boulinier, T., Dewar, M., González-Acuña, D., Gray, R., McMahon, C. R., Miller, G., Power, M., Gamble, A. & Wille, M., Feb 10 2021, In: Science of the Total Environment. 755, 143352. Research output: … Read more
crAssphage genomes identified in fecal samples of an adult and infants with evidence of positive genomic selective pressure within tail protein genes
crAssphage genomes identified in fecal samples of an adult and infants with evidence of positive genomic selective pressure within tail protein genes Brown, B. P., Chopera, D., Havyarimana, E., Wendoh, J., Jaumdally, S., Nyangahu, D. D., Gray, C. M., Martin, D. P., Varsani, A. & Jaspan, H. B., Jan 15 2021, In: Virus research. 292, … Read more
Changes to virus taxonomy and the Statutes ratified by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (2020)
Changes to virus taxonomy and the Statutes ratified by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (2020) Walker, P. J., Siddell, S. G., Lefkowitz, E. J., Mushegian, A. R., Adriaenssens, E. M., Dempsey, D. M., Dutilh, B. E., Harrach, B., Harrison, R. L., Hendrickson, R. C., Junglen, S., Knowles, N. J., Kropinski, A. M., Krupovic, … Read more
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
