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
6/2023 - current: Professor at the Biodesign Institute and School of Life Sciences
07/2016 - 6/2023: 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
Three Distinct Circovirids Identified in a Tapeworm Recovered from a Bobcat (Lynx rufus)
Three Distinct Circovirids Identified in a Tapeworm Recovered from a Bobcat (Lynx rufus)Žuštra, A., Howard, A., Schwartz, K., Day, R., Dietrich, J., Sobotyk, C., Kraberger, S. & Varsani, A., Jun 2025, In: Viruses. 17, 6, 745.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Incidence and diversity of circoviruses, polyomaviruses, and adenoviruses in exotic free-roaming rosy-faced lovebirds from Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Incidence and diversity of circoviruses, polyomaviruses, and adenoviruses in exotic free-roaming rosy-faced lovebirds from Phoenix, Arizona, USA Kraberger, S., Custer, J. M., Hammond, R., Gibson, M., Aguiar de Souza Penha, V., McGraw, H., Fountain-Jones, N. M., Olivo, D., Vargas, K. L., Kaján, G. L., Harrach, B., McGraw, K. J. & Varsani, A., Oct 2025, In: … Read more
Discovery and Genome Characterization of Three New Rhabdoviruses Infecting Passiflora spp. in Brazil
Discovery and Genome Characterization of Three New Rhabdoviruses Infecting Passiflora spp. in Brazil Vidal, A. H., Abreu, A. C. R., Dantas-Filho, J. F. S., Vianna, M. J. X., Lacorte, C., Abreu, E. F. M., Felix, G. P., Alves-Freitas, D. M. T., Pinheiro-Lima, B., Nogueira, I., Faleiro, F. G., Rosa, R. C. C., Jesus, O. N., … Read more
Virus species names have been standardized; virus names remain unchanged
Virus species names have been standardized; virus names remain unchanged Zerbini, F. M., Simmonds, P., Adriaenssens, E. M., Lefkowitz, E. J., Oksanen, H. M., Alfenas-Zerbini, P., Aylward, F. O., Freitas-Astúa, J., Hughes, H. R., Łobocka, M., Krupovic, M., Kuhn, J. H., Mushegian, A., Penzes, J. J., Reyes, A., Robertson, D. L., Roux, S., Rubino, L., … Read more
Sentinels tracking viruses in various ecosystems: Towards a One Health approach
Sentinels tracking viruses in various ecosystems: Towards a One Health approach Blondet, L., Sounda, A. M., Fritz, M., Filloux, D., Yvon, M., Blanc, S., Varsani, A., Niama, R. F., Leroy, E. M. & Roumagnac, P., May 2025, In: PLoS Pathogens. 21, 5 May, e1013141. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Coronaviruses in diarrheic pigeons and the first determination of the complete genome of a new pigeon gammacoronavirus
Coronaviruses in diarrheic pigeons and the first determination of the complete genome of a new pigeon gammacoronavirus Łukaszuk, E., Dziewulska, D., Varsani, A. & Stenzel, T., Dec 2025, In: Scientific reports. 15, 1, 19108. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
