Arthropods, like mosquitoes and ticks, can carry a wide range of viruses – some which cause disease in mammals. Many questions remain regarding virus replication in the host and the interplay of insect-specific viruses in the scope of superinfections with more dangerous pathogens, such as chikungunya virus, Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, and Zika virus.

My research will examine the interactions of viruses, both disease causing and insect-specific, in hosts and how such interactions affect host susceptibility and vector competence. We will also manipulate viruses in order to understand specific functions during infection and how these functions affect the host’s response towards pathogens.