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Martha Nelson Lab

  • Research
    • H5N1 and highly pathogenic avian influenza
    • Swine influenza
    • Human influenza
    • Other influenza
    • SARS-CoV-2 in non-human reservoirs
    • SARS-CoV-2 in humans
    • Other disease systems
  • Team
  • Publications
  • News
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  • Collaborations
  • Research

    We study how pathogens move between hosts, populations and continents — combining large-scale genomic data with Bayesian phylodynamic inference. Our work spans influenza A viruses and SARS-CoV-2, with a consistent focus on the human-animal interface and on regions where genomic surveillance has been thinnest.

    Research areas

    Influenza A

    H5N1 and highly pathogenic avian influenza

    Pandemic risk from new reassortant genotypes, spatial control in U.S. dairy cattle and mammalian adaptation of avian influenza.

    19 publications→

    Swine influenza

    Zoonotic transmission of variant influenza viruses at U.S. agricultural fairs and the global movement of influenza A viruses in swine.

    30 publications→

    Human influenza

    Global immune-driven antigenic evolution and the evolution of neuraminidase.

    23 publications→

    Other influenza

    Low pathogenicity avian influenza, unique South American lineages, and influenza in less-studied hosts.

    14 publications→

    SARS-CoV-2

    SARS-CoV-2 in non-human reservoirs

    White-tailed deer as a reservoir for older variants and cryptic transmission on U.S. mink farms.

    6 publications→

    SARS-CoV-2 in humans

    Viral diversity in understudied developing countries, including Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

    6 publications→

    Other disease systems

    Other disease systems

    Pathogens beyond influenza and SARS-CoV-2, plus methods development and capacity building.

    18 publications→

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