Virus-Host interactions

Mosquito-borne viruses like Zika virus (ZIKV), dengue virus (DENV) and chikungunya virus (CHIKV) (also known as arboviruses i.e. arthropod-borne viruses) cause hundreds of millions of infections annually. These viruses are constantly evolving, adapting to changing host environments that can eventually lead to outbreaks. The VG-HI lab is interested in understanding the shifting host factors that put pressure on arboviruses to evolve in order to design strategies to disrupt their transmission.

In order to study arbovirus-host interactions, we incorporate a variety of disciplines and approaches, including in vivo mouse and mosquito models, cell culture, molecular biology, immunology, next-generation sequencing, and more.

Visit the Weger-Lucarelli Google Scholar page for more information.