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
2020 taxonomic update for phylum Negarnaviricota (Riboviria: Orthornavirae), including the large orders Bunyavirales and Mononegavirales
2020 taxonomic update for phylum Negarnaviricota (Riboviria: Orthornavirae), including the large orders Bunyavirales and MononegaviralesKuhn, J. H., Adkins, S., Alioto, D., Alkhovsky, S. V., Amarasinghe, G. K., Anthony, S. J., Avšič-Županc, T., Ayllón, M. A., Bahl, J., Balkema-Buschmann, A., Ballinger, M. J., Bartonička, T., Basler, C., Bavari, S., Beer, M., Bente, D. A., Bergeron, É., … Read more
VirSorter2: a multi-classifier, expert-guided approach to detect diverse DNA and RNA viruses
VirSorter2: a multi-classifier, expert-guided approach to detect diverse DNA and RNA viruses Guo, J., Bolduc, B., Zayed, A. A., Varsani, A., Dominguez-Huerta, G., Delmont, T. O., Pratama, A. A., Gazitúa, M. C., Vik, D., Sullivan, M. B. & Roux, S., Dec 2021, In: Microbiome. 9, 1, 37. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › … Read more
Pan-Enterovirus Amplicon-Based High-Throughput Sequencing Detects the Complete Capsid of a EVA71 Genotype C1 Variant via Wastewater-Based Epidemiology in Arizona
Pan-Enterovirus Amplicon-Based High-Throughput Sequencing Detects the Complete Capsid of a EVA71 Genotype C1 Variant via Wastewater-Based Epidemiology in Arizona Faleye, T. O. C., Driver, E., Bowes, D., Adhikari, S., Adams, D., Varsani, A., Halden, R. U. & Scotch, M., Jan 7 2021, In: Viruses. 13, 1 Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
The vaginal virome-balancing female genital tract bacteriome, mucosal immunity, and sexual and reproductive health outcomes?
The vaginal virome-balancing female genital tract bacteriome, mucosal immunity, and sexual and reproductive health outcomes? Happel, A. U., Varsani, A., Balle, C., Passmore, J. A. & Jaspan, H., Aug 2020, In: Viruses. 12, 8, 832. Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
How virulent are emerging maize-infecting mastreviruses?
How virulent are emerging maize-infecting mastreviruses? Oyeniran, K. A., Hartnady, P., Claverie, S., Lefeuvre, P., Monjane, A. L., Donaldson, L., Lett, J. M., Varsani, A. & Martin, D. P., 2021, (Accepted/In press) In: Archives of virology. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Unveiling crucivirus diversity by mining metagenomic data
Unveiling crucivirus diversity by mining metagenomic data de la Higuera, I., Kasun, G. W., Torrance, E. L., Pratt, A. A., Maluenda, A., Colombet, J., Bisseux, M., Ravet, V., Dayaram, A., Stainton, D., Kraberger, S., Zawar-Reza, P., Goldstien, S., Briskie, J. V., White, R., Taylor, H., Gomez, C., Ainley, D. G., Harding, J. S., Fontenele, R. … Read more
