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
Identification of a new turncurtovirus in the leafhopper Circulifer haematoceps and the host plant species Sesamum indicum
Identification of a new turncurtovirus in the leafhopper Circulifer haematoceps and the host plant species Sesamum indicum Hasanvand, V., Kamali, M., Heydarnejad, J., Massumi, H., Kvarnheden, A. & Varsani, A., Jan 1 2018, (Accepted/In press) In : Virus Genes. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
Virus discovery in all three major lineages of terrestrial arthropods highlights the diversity of single-stranded DNA viruses associated with invertebrates
Virus discovery in all three major lineages of terrestrial arthropods highlights the diversity of single-stranded DNA viruses associated with invertebrates Rosario, K., Mettel, K. A., Benner, B. E., Johnson, R., Scott, C., Yusseff-Vanegas, S. Z., Baker, C. C. M., Cassill, D. L., Storer, C., Varsani, A. & Breitbart, M., Jan 1 2018, In : PeerJ. … Read more
The westward journey of alfalfa leaf curl virus
The westward journey of alfalfa leaf curl virus Davoodi, Z. , Bejerman, N. , Richet, C. , Filloux, D. , Kumari, S. G. , Chatzivassiliou, E. K. , Galzi, S. , Julian, C. , Samarfard, S. , Trucco, V. , Giolitti, F. , Fiallo-Olivé, E. , Navas-Castillo, J. , Asaad, N. , Moukahel, A. R. … Read more
Notes on recombination and reassortment in multipartite/segmented viruses
Notes on recombination and reassortment in multipartite/segmented viruses Varsani, A., Lefeuvre, P., Roumagnac, P. & Martin, D., Dec 1 2018, In : Current opinion in virology. 33, p. 156-166 11 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article
Novel circular DNA viruses associated with Apiaceae and Poaceae from South Africa and New Zealand
Novel circular DNA viruses associated with Apiaceae and Poaceae from South Africa and New Zealand Richet, C., Kraberger, S., Filloux, D., Bernardo, P., Harkins, G. W., Martin, D. P., Roumagnac, P. & Varsani, A., Jan 1 2018, (Accepted/In press) In : Archives of virology. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
Genome Sequence of a Gyrovirus Associated with Ashy Storm- Petrel
Ashy storm-petrels (order Procellariiformes) are seabirds that are found along the coast of California to Baja Mexico. A novel gyrovirus was identified from a cloacal swab of an ashy storm-petrel, which is the second gyrovirus to be identified in sea birds, the first being found in the related northern fulmar. Waits, K., Bradley, R.W., Warzybok, … Read more
