About
Though it has been widely predicted that segmented arboviruses evolve through a combination of genetic drift/shift as well as intragenic recombination, the frequency of these events as well as the exact molecular mechanism that facilitates genetic reassortment has not been determined. This project will combine previous collaborative work to create a viral evolution forecasting tool to predict viremia and means to manage the insect vector populations. To continue building on the current collaborations with the USDA FADRU and FABADRU at NBAF, this project will characterize the genetic diversity of segmented arboviruses that will ultimately inform the understanding of epidemiology in these viral systems. This partnership will also provide the opportunity to sequence 352 virus isolates currently in the FABADRU viral inventory. Characterizing the genetic diversity of these viruses, combined with sequencing from the Mayo lab on previous USDA agreements creates an extensive library of viral segments which can be accessed to determine common sequences in the US “virome.” The combination of sequence data from field and laboratory isolates has unique application to the USDA. We offer a platform to intensively study orbiviruses circulating with the US.
External Collaborators
Tavis Anderson, Research Biologist, Virus and Prion Research, USDA-ARS
Foreign Arthropod-borne Animal Diseases Research Unit (FABADRU), USDA
Lee Constaedt, Research Entomologist
William C Wilson, Research Microbiologist