- Ancient Egyptian Iconography, Egyptian History, Egyptian Art and Archaeology, History of Egyptology, Ritual and Performance (Egyptology), Ancient Egypt, and 6 moreAncient History, Predynastic and Early Dynastic Egypt, Egyptology, Ancient Egyptian History, Old Kingdom (Egyptology), and New Kingdom (Egyptology)edit
- Research scientist interested in infectious diseases of wildlife, in particular viral and emerging or resurging diseases.edit
We compared a bead RNA extraction method with a one-tube method that required only a heat block and ice. RNA was first extracted from liver samples from nine rabbits dying from rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2) using magnetic... more
We compared a bead RNA extraction method with a one-tube method that required only a heat block and ice. RNA was first extracted from liver samples from nine rabbits dying from rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2) using magnetic beads, and RT-PCR was used to detect RHDV2 sequence. Following freezing, RNA was extracted a second time using the SwiftX™ Swabs Viral RNA Extraction Reagent. RHDV2 was detected in all nine samples. Cycle threshold values were higher in the RT-PCR following SwiftX extraction (mean: 3.79), indicating that the second extraction method resulted in approximately a 1 log10 reduction in sensitivity. A second freeze–thaw for the samples and less tissue extracted using SwiftX may have contributed additionally to the loss in sensitivity.
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This article describes the first detections of disease due to natural infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIv) H5N1 of the Eurasian lineage goose/Guangdong clade 2.3.4.4b in wild terrestrial mammals throughout the... more
This article describes the first detections of disease due to natural infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIv) H5N1 of the Eurasian lineage goose/Guangdong clade 2.3.4.4b in wild terrestrial mammals throughout the United States during 2021-2022. Affected mammalian species include 50 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), 6 striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis), 4 raccoons (Procyon lotor), 2 bobcats (Lynx rufus), 2 Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana), 1 coyote (Canis latrans), 1 fisher (Pekania pennanti), and 1 gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus). Infected mammals primarily exhibited neurological signs. Necrotizing meningoencephalitis, interstitial pneumonia, and myocardial necrosis were the most common lesions; however, species variations in lesion distribution were observed. Genotype analysis of sequences from 48 animals indicates that these cases represent spillover infections from wild birds.
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Dataset used in the complete fusion gene coding sequences phylogenetic analysis. Table S2. Dataset used in the complete genome concatenated coding sequences phylogenetic analysis. Table S3. Dataset used in the partial fusion gene (374... more
Dataset used in the complete fusion gene coding sequences phylogenetic analysis. Table S2. Dataset used in the complete genome concatenated coding sequences phylogenetic analysis. Table S3. Dataset used in the partial fusion gene (374 nucleotides) phylogenetic analysis. (PDF 366Â kb)
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Significance In 2016/2017, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus of the subtype H5 spilled over into wild birds and caused the largest known HPAI epidemic in Europe, affecting poultry and wild birds. During its spread, the virus... more
Significance In 2016/2017, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus of the subtype H5 spilled over into wild birds and caused the largest known HPAI epidemic in Europe, affecting poultry and wild birds. During its spread, the virus frequently exchanged genetic material (reassortment) with cocirculating low-pathogenic avian influenza viruses. To determine where and when these reassortments occurred, we analyzed Eurasian avian influenza viruses and identified a large set of H5 HPAI reassortants. We found that new genetic material likely came from wild birds across their migratory range and from domestic ducks not only in China, but also in central Europe. This knowledge is important to understand how the virus could adapt to wild birds and become established in wild bird populations.
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Research Interests: Zoology, Biology, Strategic Planning, Medicine, Avian Influenza, and 12 morePandemic Influenza, Early Detection, Waterfowl, Migratory Birds, United States Department of Agriculture, Wild Bird, Veterinary Sciences, Integrative, Highly pathogenic avian influenza, Low pathogenic avian influenza, Disease Surveillance, and Confidence Level
Phylogenetic analysis using the 374-nucleotide partial fusion gene sequences of genotype VI Newcastle disease viruses. The evolutionary history was inferred using the Maximum-likelihood method based on the Kimura-2 parameter model with... more
Phylogenetic analysis using the 374-nucleotide partial fusion gene sequences of genotype VI Newcastle disease viruses. The evolutionary history was inferred using the Maximum-likelihood method based on the Kimura-2 parameter model with 1000 bootstrap replicates [42]. The analysis involved 931 genotype VI partial fusion gene sequences (374 nucleotides). Roman numerals are used for the sub-genotype VI designation, and for a clearer view, the taxa names and bootstrap values are not shown in the radiation tree. The VIa and VIn groups are labeled with the country and years of isolate collection. Evolutionary analyses were conducted in MEGA6 [21]. (PDF 283Â kb)
The number of raw reads, filtered reads, and mean length of the reads of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples of wild pigeons collected in the U.S. between 2010 and 2016 sequenced by next-generation sequencing (a continuation... more
The number of raw reads, filtered reads, and mean length of the reads of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples of wild pigeons collected in the U.S. between 2010 and 2016 sequenced by next-generation sequencing (a continuation of Table 1). (PDF 32Â kb)
Comparison of next-generation sequencing results to immunohistochemistry results from 48 Eurasian collared-doves and rock pigeons formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples collected in the U.S. between 2010 and 2016. (PDF 208Â kb)
Research Interests: Microbiology, Medical Microbiology, Biology, Medicine, influenza A, and 15 moreBirds, Female, Animals, Male, Animal migration, North America, Prevalence, Sex Factors, Migratory Birds, Age Factors, Seasons, Alaska, Highly pathogenic avian influenza, Low pathogenic avian influenza, and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction
From September to December 2011, 162 New England harbor seals died in an outbreak of pneumonia. Sequence analysis of postmortem samples revealed the presence of an avian H3N8 influenza A virus, similar to a virus circulating in North... more
From September to December 2011, 162 New England harbor seals died in an outbreak of pneumonia. Sequence analysis of postmortem samples revealed the presence of an avian H3N8 influenza A virus, similar to a virus circulating in North American waterfowl since at least 2002 but with mutations that indicate recent adaption to mammalian hosts. These include a D701N mutation in the viral PB2 protein, previously reported in highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza viruses infecting people. Lectin staining and agglutination assays indicated the presence of the avian-preferred SAα-2,3 and mammalian SAα-2,6 receptors in seal respiratory tract, and the ability of the virus to agglutinate erythrocytes bearing either the SAα-2,3 or the SAα-2,6 receptor. The emergence of this A/harbor seal/Massachusetts/1/2011 virus may herald the appearance of an H3N8 influenza clade with potential for persistence and cross-species transmission. IMPORTANCE The emergence of new strains of influenza virus is always...
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Research Interests: Evolutionary Biology, Genetics, Population Genetics, Migration, Virus, and 10 moreAvian Influenza, Evolutionary game theory and applications, North America, Avian Influenza Viruses, Migratory Birds, North American, Evolutionary, Nucleotides, Highly pathogenic avian influenza, and Low pathogenic avian influenza
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Introduction: Federal Select Agent Program regulations require laboratories to document a validated procedure for inactivating select agents prior to movement outside registered space. Avian influenza viruses and virulent Newcastle... more
Introduction: Federal Select Agent Program regulations require laboratories to document a validated procedure for inactivating select agents prior to movement outside registered space. Avian influenza viruses and virulent Newcastle disease virus (vNDV) are cultured in chicken amnio-allantoic fluid (AAF), but the efficacy of commercial lysis buffers to inactivate viruses in protein-rich media has not been documented. Objectives: We assesses the efficacy of MagMAX™ lysis buffer for inactivating highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) and vNDV in chicken AAF and confirm the inactivation of avian influenza in serum using heat. Methods: Low pathogenic avian influenza virus (LPAIV) and avian paramyxovirus subtype-1 (APMV-1) were incubated with lysis buffer and tested for viability. Known viable LPAIV and APMV-1 RNA was extracted from AAF using MagMAX™-96 AI/ND Viral RNA Isolation kit, and the eluate was tested for remaining infectious agent. Finally, inactivation of LPAIV in serum...
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Newcastle disease viruses (NDV) are highly contagious and cause disease in both wild birds and poultry. A pigeon-adapted variant of genotype VI NDV, often termed pigeon paramyxovirus 1, is commonly isolated from columbids in the United... more
Newcastle disease viruses (NDV) are highly contagious and cause disease in both wild birds and poultry. A pigeon-adapted variant of genotype VI NDV, often termed pigeon paramyxovirus 1, is commonly isolated from columbids in the United States and worldwide. Complete genomic characterization of these genotype VI viruses circulating in wild columbids in the United States is limited, and due to the genetic variability of the virus, failure of rapid diagnostic detection has been reported. Therefore, in this study, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples were subjected to next-generation sequencing (NGS) to identify and characterize these circulating viruses, providing valuable genetic information. NGS enables multiple samples to be deep-sequenced in parallel. When used on FFPE samples, this methodology allows for retrospective studies of infectious organisms. FFPE wild pigeon tissue samples (kidney, liver and spleen) from 10 mortality events in the U.S. between 2010 and 2016 wer...
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In 2014, clade 2.3.4.4 H5N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses spread across the Republic of Korea and ultimately were reported in China, Japan, Russia, and Europe. Mortality associated with a reassortant HPAI H5N2 virus was... more
In 2014, clade 2.3.4.4 H5N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses spread across the Republic of Korea and ultimately were reported in China, Japan, Russia, and Europe. Mortality associated with a reassortant HPAI H5N2 virus was detected in poultry farms in western Canada at the end of November. The same strain (with identical genetic structure) was then detected in free-living wild birds that had died prior to December 8, 2014, of unrelated causes in Whatcom County, Washington, U. S. A., in an area contiguous with the index Canadian location. A gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) that had hunted and fed on an American wigeon (Anas americana) on December 6, 2014, in the same area, and died 2 days later, tested positive for the Eurasian-origin HPAI H5N8. Subsequently, an active surveillance program using hunter-harvested waterfowl in Washington and Oregon detected 10 HPAI H5 viruses, of three different subtypes (four H5N2, three H5N8, and three H5N1) with four segments in common (...
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In 2013 a novel avian influenza H7N9 virus was isolated from several critically ill patients in China, and infection with this virus has since caused more than 200 human deaths. Live poultry markets are the likely locations of virus... more
In 2013 a novel avian influenza H7N9 virus was isolated from several critically ill patients in China, and infection with this virus has since caused more than 200 human deaths. Live poultry markets are the likely locations of virus exposure to humans. Peridomestic avian species also may play important roles in the transmission and maintenance of H7N9 at live poultry markets. We experimentally challenged wild European Starlings ( Sturnus vulgaris ) with the novel H7N9 virus and measured virus excretion, clinical signs, and infectious dose. We found that European Starlings can be infected with this virus when inoculated with relatively high doses, and we predict that infected birds excrete sufficient amounts of virus to transmit to other birds, including domestic chickens. Infected European Starlings showed no clinical signs or mortality after infection with H7N9. This abundant peridomestic bird may be a source of the novel H7N9 virus in live poultry markets and may have roles in vir...
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Wild water birds are the natural reservoir for low-pathogenic avian influenza viruses (AIV). However, our ability to investigate the epizootiology of AIV in these migratory populations is challenging and, despite intensive worldwide... more
Wild water birds are the natural reservoir for low-pathogenic avian influenza viruses (AIV). However, our ability to investigate the epizootiology of AIV in these migratory populations is challenging and, despite intensive worldwide surveillance, remains poorly understood. We conducted a cross-sectional, retrospective analysis in Pacific Flyway Lesser Snow Geese, Chen caerulescens, to investigate AIV serology and infection patterns. We collected nearly 3000 sera samples from Snow Geese at two breeding colonies in Russia and Canada during 1993-1996 and swab samples from >4000 birds at wintering and migration areas in the United States during 2006-2011. We found seroprevalence and annual seroconversion varied considerably among years. Seroconversion and infection rates also differed between Snow Goose breeding colonies and wintering areas, suggesting that AIV exposure in this gregarious waterfowl species is likely occurring during several phases (migration, wintering, and potential...
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ABSTRACT
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BACKGROUND: West Nile virus (WNV) is an arbovirus that is typically transmitted by mosquitoes, especially Culex pipiens and C. tarsalis. We describe an unusual die-off of eared grebes and bald eagles due to WNV occurring during late fall... more
BACKGROUND: West Nile virus (WNV) is an arbovirus that is typically transmitted by mosquitoes, especially Culex pipiens and C. tarsalis. We describe an unusual die-off of eared grebes and bald eagles due to WNV occurring during late fall and winter months in Utah. METHODS: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) first became aware of the large die-off of eared grebes (Podiceps nigricollis) around the Great Salt Lake in November 2013. Beginning in early December, a number of bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) were observed displaying neurological symptoms (tremors, limb paralysis, and lethargy) or they were found dead. Dead or euthanized birds were collected by the UDWR and submitted to the Utah Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Logan, UT, and to the USGS National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, WI, for complete diagnostic analysis. Avian samples from brain, liver and heart were submitted for bacterial culture. Tracheal and cloacal swabs from grebes and eagles were tested...
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Phylogenetic network analysis and understanding of waterfowl migration patterns suggest the Eurasian H5N8 clade 2.3.4.4 avian influenza virus emerged in late 2013 in China, spread in early 2014 to South Korea and Japan, and reached... more
Phylogenetic network analysis and understanding of waterfowl migration patterns suggest the Eurasian H5N8 clade 2.3.4.4 avian influenza virus emerged in late 2013 in China, spread in early 2014 to South Korea and Japan, and reached Siberia and Beringia by summer 2014 via migratory birds. Three genetically distinct subgroups emerged and subsequently spread along different flyways during fall 2014 into Europe, North America, and East Asia, respectively. All three subgroups reappeared in Japan, a wintering site for waterfowl from Eurasia and parts of North America.
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RNA quantitation is becoming increasingly important in basic, pharmaceutical, and clinical research. For example, quantitation of viral RNAs can predict disease progression and therapeutic efficacy. Likewise, gene expression analysis of... more
RNA quantitation is becoming increasingly important in basic, pharmaceutical, and clinical research. For example, quantitation of viral RNAs can predict disease progression and therapeutic efficacy. Likewise, gene expression analysis of diseased versus normal, or untreated versus treated, tissue can identify relevant biological responses or assess the effects of pharmacological agents. As the focus of the Human Genome Project moves toward gene expression analysis, the field will require a flexible RNA analysis technology that can quantitatively monitor multiple forms of alternatively transcribed and/or processed RNAs (refs 3,4). We have applied the principles of invasive cleavage and engineered an improved 5'-nuclease to develop an isothermal, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based signal amplification method for detecting RNA in both total RNA and cell lysate samples. This detection format, termed the RNA invasive cleavage assay, obviates the need for target amplif...
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The SM22alpha promoter has been used as a model system to define the molecular mechanisms that regulate smooth muscle cell (SMC) specific gene expression during mammalian development. The SM22alpha gene is expressed exclusively in... more
The SM22alpha promoter has been used as a model system to define the molecular mechanisms that regulate smooth muscle cell (SMC) specific gene expression during mammalian development. The SM22alpha gene is expressed exclusively in vascular and visceral SMCs during postnatal development and is transiently expressed in the heart and somites during embryogenesis. Analysis of the SM22alpha promoter in transgenic mice revealed that 280 bp of 5' flanking sequence is sufficient to restrict expression of the lacZ reporter gene to arterial SMCs and the myotomal component of the somites. DNase I footprint and electrophoretic mobility shift analyses revealed that the SM22alpha promoter contains six nuclear protein binding sites (designated smooth muscle elements [SMEs] -1 to -6, respectively), two of which bind serum response factor (SRF) (SME-1 and SME-4). Mutational analyses demonstrated that a two-nucleotide substitution that selectively eliminates SRF binding to SME-4 decreases SM22alp...
Research Interests: Gene expression, Molecular Mechanics, Biological Sciences, DNA, Smooth muscle, and 15 moreMutation, Mice, Animals, Rats, Muscle development, Model System, Base Sequence, Protein Binding, DNA binding proteins, Serum response factor, Molecular Sequence Data, Nucleotide substitution, binding sites, Smooth muscle cell, and Medical and Health Sciences
The slow/cardiac troponin C (cTnC) gene is expressed in three distinct striated muscle lineages: cardiac myocytes, embryonic fast skeletal myotubes, and adult slow skeletal myocytes. We have reported previously that cTnC gene expression... more
The slow/cardiac troponin C (cTnC) gene is expressed in three distinct striated muscle lineages: cardiac myocytes, embryonic fast skeletal myotubes, and adult slow skeletal myocytes. We have reported previously that cTnC gene expression in cardiac muscle is regulated by a cardiac-specific promoter/enhancer located in the 5' flanking region of the gene (bp -124 to +1). In this report, we demonstrate that the cTnC gene contains a second distinct and independent transcriptional enhancer which is located in the first intron. This second enhancer is skeletal myotube specific and is developmentally up-regulated during the differentiation of myoblasts to myotubes. This enhancer contains three functionally important nuclear protein binding sites: a CACCC box, a MEF-2 binding site, and a previously undescribed nuclear protein binding site, designated MEF-3, which is also present in a large number of skeletal muscle-specific transcriptional enhancers. Unlike most skeletal muscle-specific ...
Research Interests: Cellular Biology, Biological Sciences, Cell line, Molecular and cellular biology, Sequence alignment, and 15 moreMice, Animals, Muscles, Introns, Troponin, Amino Acid Sequence, Base Sequence, Protein Binding, DNA binding proteins, Binding Site, Gene Expression Regulation, Molecular Sequence Data, binding sites, Medical and Health Sciences, and MyoD Protein
ABSTRACT Wild water birds are the natural reservoir for low-pathogenic avian influenza viruses 19 (AIV). However, our ability to investigate the epizootiology of AIV in these migratory 20 populations is challenging, and despite intensive... more
ABSTRACT Wild water birds are the natural reservoir for low-pathogenic avian influenza viruses 19 (AIV). However, our ability to investigate the epizootiology of AIV in these migratory 20 populations is challenging, and despite intensive worldwide surveillance, remains poorly 21 understood. We conducted a cross-sectional, retrospective analysis in Pacific Flyway lesser 22 snow geese Chen caerulescens to investigate AIV serology and infection patterns. We collected 23 nearly 3,000 sera samples from snow geese at 2 breeding colonies in Russia and Canada during 24 1993-1996 and swab samples from > 4,000 birds at wintering and migration areas in the United 25 States during 2006-2011. We found seroprevalence and annual seroconversion varied 26 considerably among years. Seroconversion and infection rates also differed between snow goose 27 breeding colonies and wintering areas, suggesting that AIV exposure in this gregarious 28 waterfowl species is likely occurring during several phases (migration, wintering and potentially 29 breeding areas) of the annual cycle. We estimated AIV antibody persistence was longer (14 30 months) in female geese compared to males (6 months). This relatively long period of AIV 31 antibody persistence suggests that subtype-specific serology may be an effective tool for 32 detection of exposure to subtypes associated with highly-pathogenic AIV. Our study provides 33 further evidence of high seroprevalence in Arctic goose populations, and estimates of annual 34 AIV seroconversion and antibody persistence for North American waterfowl. We suggest future 35 AIV studies include serology to help elucidate the epizootiological dynamics of AIV in wild bird 36 populations.
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After the 2001 occurrence of West Nile virus (WNV) in Wisconsin (WI), we collected sera, during 2003-2006, from south-central WI mesopredators. We tested these sera to determine WNV antibody prevalence and geometric mean antibody titer... more
After the 2001 occurrence of West Nile virus (WNV) in Wisconsin (WI), we collected sera, during 2003-2006, from south-central WI mesopredators. We tested these sera to determine WNV antibody prevalence and geometric mean antibody titer (GMAT). Four-fold higher antibody prevalence and 2-fold higher GMAT in 2003-2004 indicated greater exposure of mesopredators to WNV during the apparent epizootic phase. The period 2005-2006 was likely the enzootic phase because WNV antibody prevalence fell to a level similar to other flaviviruses. Our results suggest that, in mesopredators, vector-borne transmission is the primary route of infection and WNV antibodies persist for < 1 year. Mesopredators may be sensitive indicators of West Nile virus spill-over into humans and horses. Mesopredator sero-surveys may complement dead crow surveillance by providing additional data for the timing of public health interventions. Research is needed to clarify the dynamics of WNV infection in these mammals a...
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Shorebirds are a primary reservoir of avian influenza viruses (AIV). We conducted surveillance studies in Iceland shorebird populations for 3 years, documenting high serological evidence of AIV exposure in shorebirds, primarily in Ruddy... more
Shorebirds are a primary reservoir of avian influenza viruses (AIV). We conducted surveillance studies in Iceland shorebird populations for 3 years, documenting high serological evidence of AIV exposure in shorebirds, primarily in Ruddy Turnstones (Arenaria interpres; seroprevalence=75%). However, little evidence of virus infection was found in these shorebird populations and only two turnstone AIVs (H2N7; H5N1) were able to be phylogenetically examined. These analyses showed that viruses from Iceland shorebirds were primarily derived from Eurasian lineage viruses, yet the H2 hemagglutinin gene segment was from a North American lineage previously detected in a gull from Iceland the previous year. The H5N1 virus was determined to be low pathogenic, however the PB2 gene was closely related to the PB2 from highly pathogenic H5N1 isolates from China. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that the turnstones were infected with at least one of these AIV while in Iceland and confirm Iceland as an important location where AIV from different continents interact and reassort, creating new virus genomes. Mounting data warrant continued surveillance for AIV in wild birds in the North Atlantic, including Canada, Greenland, and the northeast USA to determine the risks of new AI viruses and their intercontinental movement in this region.
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Morbidity and mortality events caused by avian paramyxovirus-1 (APMV-1) in Double-crested Cormorant (DCCO; Phalacrocorax auritus) nesting colonies in the US and Canada have been sporadically documented in the literature. We describe... more
Morbidity and mortality events caused by avian paramyxovirus-1 (APMV-1) in Double-crested Cormorant (DCCO; Phalacrocorax auritus) nesting colonies in the US and Canada have been sporadically documented in the literature. We describe APMV-1 associated outbreaks in DCCO in the US from the first reported occurrence in 1992 through 2012. The frequency of APMV-1 outbreaks has increased in the US over the last decade, but the majority of events have continued to occur in DCCO colonies in the Midwestern states. Although morbidity and mortality in conesting species has been frequently reported during DCCO APMV-1 outbreaks, our results suggest that isolation of APMV-1 is uncommon in species other than DCCO during APMV-1 outbreaks and that the cause of mortality in other species is associated with other pathogens. Populations of DCCO do not appear to have been significantly affected by this disease; however, because at least 65% of the APMV-1 outbreaks in DCCO in the US have involved APMV-1 s...
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Nobuto filter paper strips are widely used for storing blood-serum samples, but the recovery of proteins from these strips following rehydration is unknown. Poor recovery of proteins could reduce the concentration of antibodies and... more
Nobuto filter paper strips are widely used for storing blood-serum samples, but the recovery of proteins from these strips following rehydration is unknown. Poor recovery of proteins could reduce the concentration of antibodies and antigens and reduce the sensitivity of diagnostic assays. We compared the protein concentration, and its association with test sensitivity, of eluted Nobuto strip samples with paired sera. We collected and froze serum from five gray wolves (Canis lupus) for 8 mo. When thawed, we used a spectrophotometer (absorbance 280 nm) to determine the serum protein concentration for paired sera and Nobuto eluates for each animal in 2-fold serial dilutions. Total protein concentration was similar for both sample storage methods (Nobuto eluates and control sera), except for the undiluted samples in which Nobuto eluates had higher total protein concentrations. Both sample storage methods appear to produce similar results using the SNAP® 4Dx® Test to detect antibodies ag...
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ABSTRACTSince 1998, cyclic mortality events in common eiders (Somateria mollissima), numbering in the hundreds to thousands of dead birds, have been documented along the coast of Cape Cod, MA, USA. Although longitudinal disease... more
ABSTRACTSince 1998, cyclic mortality events in common eiders (Somateria mollissima), numbering in the hundreds to thousands of dead birds, have been documented along the coast of Cape Cod, MA, USA. Although longitudinal disease investigations have uncovered potential contributing factors responsible for these outbreaks, detecting a primary etiological agent has proven enigmatic. Here, we identify a novel orthomyxovirus, tentatively named Wellfleet Bay virus (WFBV), as a potential causative agent of these outbreaks. Genomic analysis of WFBV revealed that it is most closely related to members of theQuaranjavirusgenus within the familyOrthomyxoviridae. Similar to other members of the genus, WFBV contains an alphabaculovirus gp64-like glycoprotein that was demonstrated to have fusion activity; this also tentatively suggests that ticks (and/or insects) may vector the virus in nature. However, in addition to the six RNA segments encoding the prototypical structural proteins identified in ...
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Research Interests: Genetic Diversity, Biological Sciences, Phylogeny, Virus, Avian Influenza, and 15 moreAnimals, Animal migration, Phylogenetic, Phylogenetic analysis, Bird Migration, North America, Avian Influenza Viruses, Charadriiformes, influenza A virus, Wild Bird, North American, Highly pathogenic avian influenza, Low pathogenic avian influenza, Molecular Sequence Data, and temporal variation
Research Interests: Geography, Population Genetics, Molecular Evolution, Biological Sciences, Phylogeny, and 15 moreSeasonality, Avian Influenza, Animals, Phylogenetic analysis, Spatiotemporal, Time Factors, Migratory Birds, influenza A virus, Anseriformes, Spatial Dependence, Reassortment, Alaska, Low pathogenic avian influenza, Molecular Sequence Data, and Medical and Health Sciences
Twenty avian influenza viruses were isolated from seven wild migratory bird species sampled at St. Lawrence Island, Alaska. We tested predictions based on previous phylogenetic analyses of avian influenza viruses that support spatially... more
Twenty avian influenza viruses were isolated from seven wild migratory bird species sampled at St. Lawrence Island, Alaska. We tested predictions based on previous phylogenetic analyses of avian influenza viruses that support spatially dependent trans-hemispheric gene flow and frequent interspecies transmission at a location situated at the Asian-North American interface. Through the application of phylogenetic and genotypic approaches, our data support functional dilution by distance of trans-hemispheric reassortants and interspecific virus transmission. Our study confirms infection of divergent avian taxa with nearly identical avian influenza strains in the wild. Findings also suggest that H16N3 viruses may contain gene segments with unique phylogenetic positions and that further investigation of how host specificity may impact transmission of H13 and H16 viruses is warranted.
Research Interests: Gene Flow, Biological Sciences, Phylogeny, Transmission, Avian Influenza, and 15 moreBirds, Animals, Asia, Animal migration, North America, Avian Influenza Viruses, Genotype, Migratory Birds, influenza A virus, Host Specificity, North American, Spatial Dependence, Reassortment, Molecular Sequence Data, and Medical and Health Sciences
A comprehensive dataset of NDV genome sequences was evaluated using bioinformatics to characterize the evolutionary forces affecting NDV genomes. Despite evidence of recombination in most genes, only one event in the fusion gene of... more
A comprehensive dataset of NDV genome sequences was evaluated using bioinformatics to characterize the evolutionary forces affecting NDV genomes. Despite evidence of recombination in most genes, only one event in the fusion gene of genotype V viruses produced evolutionarily viable progenies. The codon-associated rate of change for the six NDV proteins revealed that the highest rate of change occurred at the fusion protein. All proteins were under strong purifying (negative) selection; the fusion protein displayed the highest number of amino acids under positive selection. Regardless of the phylogenetic grouping or the level of virulence, the cleavage site motif was highly conserved implying that mutations at this site that result in changes of virulence may not be favored. The coding sequence of the fusion gene and the genomes of viruses from wild birds displayed higher yearly rates of change in virulent viruses than in viruses of low virulence, suggesting that an increase in virulence may accelerate the rate of NDV evolution.