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
A PCR-Based Retrospective Study for Beak and Feather Disease Virus (BFDV) in Five Wild Populations of Parrots from Australia, Argentina and New Zealand
A PCR-Based Retrospective Study for Beak and Feather Disease Virus (BFDV) in Five Wild Populations of Parrots from Australia, Argentina and New Zealand Ortiz-Catedral, L., Wallace, C. J., Heinsohn, R., Krebs, E. A., Langmore, N. E., Vukelic, D., Bucher, E. H., Varsani, A. & Masello, J. F., Feb 2022, In: Diversity. 14, 2, 148.Research output: … Read more
Viral Aggregation: The Knowns and Unknowns
Viral Aggregation: The Knowns and Unknowns Pradhan, S., Varsani, A., Leff, C., Swanson, C. J. & Hariadi, R. F., Feb 2022, In: Viruses. 14, 2, 438. Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Differentiating between viruses and virus species by writing their names correctly
Differentiating between viruses and virus species by writing their names correctly Zerbini, F. M., Siddell, S. G., Mushegian, A. R., Walker, P. J., Lefkowitz, E. J., Adriaenssens, E. M., Alfenas-Zerbini, P., Dutilh, B. E., García, M. L., Junglen, S., Krupovic, M., Kuhn, J. H., Lambert, A. J., Łobocka, M., Oksanen, H. M., Robertson, D. L., … Read more
Novel adenovirus associated with common tern (Sterna hirundo) chicks
Novel adenovirus associated with common tern (Sterna hirundo) chicks Kraberger, S., Oswald, S. A., Arnold, J. M., Schmidlin, K., Custer, J. M., Levi, G., Benkő, M., Harrach, B. & Varsani, A., 2022, (Accepted/In press) In: Archives of virology. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
In Silico Characterisation of Putative Prophages in Lactobacillaceae Used in Probiotics for Vaginal Health
In Silico Characterisation of Putative Prophages in Lactobacillaceae Used in Probiotics for Vaginal Health Happel, A. U., Kullin, B. R., Gamieldien, H., Jaspan, H. B., Varsani, A., Martin, D., Passmore, J. A. S. & Froissart, R., Feb 2022, In: Microorganisms. 10, 2, 214. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
First report of apple hammerhead viroid infecting ‘Richared Delicious’ apple (Malus domestica) in Tunisia
First report of apple hammerhead viroid infecting ‘Richared Delicious’ apple (Malus domestica) in Tunisia Hamdi, I., Soltani, R., Baraket, G., Varsani, A. & Najar, A., 2022, (Accepted/In press) In: Journal of Plant Pathology. Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review
