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
Virus taxonomy and the role of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV)
Virus taxonomy and the role of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV)Siddell, S. G., Smith, D. B., Adriaenssens, E., Alfenas-Zerbini, P., Dutilh, B. E., Garcia, M. L., Junglen, S., Krupovic, M., Kuhn, J. H., Lambert, A. J., Lefkowitz, E. J., Łobocka, M., Mushegian, A. R., Oksanen, H. M., Robertson, D. L., Rubino, L., … Read more
Reekeekee- and roodoodooviruses, two different Microviridae clades constituted by the smallest DNA phages
Reekeekee- and roodoodooviruses, two different Microviridae clades constituted by the smallest DNA phages Olo Ndela, E., Roux, S., Henke, C., Sczyrba, A., Sime Ngando, T., Varsani, A. & Enault, F., 2023, In: Virus Evolution. 9, 1, veac123. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Four principles to establish a universal virus taxonomy
Four principles to establish a universal virus taxonomy Simmonds, P., Adriaenssens, E. M., Murilo Zerbini, F., Abrescia, N. G. A., Aiewsakun, P., Alfenas-Zerbini, P., Bao, Y., Barylski, J., Drosten, C., Duffy, S., Paul Duprex, W., Dutilh, B. E., Elena, S. F., García, M. L., Junglen, S., Katzourakis, A., Koonin, E. V., Krupovic, M., Kuhn, J. … Read more
DNA virome composition of two sympatric wild felids, bobcat (Lynx rufus) and puma (Puma concolor) in Sonora, Mexico
DNA virome composition of two sympatric wild felids, bobcat (Lynx rufus) and puma (Puma concolor) in Sonora, Mexico Payne, N., Combrink, L., Kraberger, S., Fontenele, R. S., Schmidlin, K., Cassaigne, I., Culver, M., Varsani, A. & Van Doorslaer, K., 2023, In: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. 11, 1126149. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article … Read more
Leveraging an established neighbourhood-level, open access wastewater monitoring network to address public health priorities: a population-based study
Leveraging an established neighbourhood-level, open access wastewater monitoring network to address public health priorities: a population-based study Bowes, D. A., Driver, E. M., Kraberger, S., Fontenele, R. S., Holland, L. R. A., Wright, J., Johnston, B., Savic, S., Engstrom Newell, M., Adhikari, S., Kumar, R., Goetz, H., Binsfeld, A., Nessi, K., Watkins, P., Mahant, A., … Read more
Characterisation of the trans-membrane nucleoporins GP210 and NDC1 in Arabidopsis thaliana
Characterisation of the trans-membrane nucleoporins GP210 and NDC1 in Arabidopsis thaliana Collins, P. P., Broad, R. C., Yogeeswaran, K., Varsani, A., Poole, A. M. & Collings, D. A., Jul 2023, In: Plant Science. 332, 111719. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
