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Arvind Varsani

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School of Life Sciences
Associate Professor
Faculty, TEMPE Campus, Mailcode 6101
Biodesign Center for Mechanisms of Evolution
Associate Faculty
Faculty, TEMPE Campus, Mailcode 6101
Biodesign Center for Fundamental & Applied Microbiomics
Assoc Professor
Faculty, TEMPE Campus, Mailcode 6101
Center for Evolution & Medicine Affiliated Faculty
Assoc Professor
Faculty, TEMPE Campus, Mailcode 6101
Biography

Arvind Varsani is a molecular virologist who works across ecosystems from plants to animals and from the tropics to polar regions. His research uses a combination of traditional virology, microscopy (including transmission electron microscopy), molecular and cellular biology techniques in conjunction with modern sequencing techniques, synthetic biology and bioinformatics to characterise viruses and understand their dynamics.

Studies over the last decade have shown that viruses are the most common and abundant entities on earth, yet very little is known about their evolutionary dynamics and roles in ecosystems. Our current knowledge of viruses is heavily biased to those that cause disease in humans, animals and plants. This knowledge equates to a very small portion of the viral diversity on the planet and hence a very minute fraction of the virome associated with humans, animals and plants. Over the last decade Arvind Varsani and his collaborators have focused on addressing diversity, demographics and evolutionary dynamics of viral communities in various ecosystems.

Arvind Varsani’s broader objectives are to: 1) study viral dynamics in Ross Sea (Antarctica) ecosystem which is recognised as anthropogenically the least-altered marine system on the planet with no evidence indicating introduction or range expansion of any species thus far, despite its changing physical environment; 2) unravel the viral evolutionary dynamics as a consequence of climate change; 3) study viral ecological interaction networks within a microbiome and more broadly within phytobiomes in order to unravel the dynamics of pathogen emergence.

CV
Binary Data Curriculum Vitae
Education
  • Ph.D. University of Cape Town, South Africa
  • B.Sc.Loughborough University, England
Research Website
https://varsanilab.org/
Google Scholar
Google Scholar Profile
Research Interests

I work across ecosystems, from plants to animals, and from the tropics to the Antarctic with a strong focus on viral evolution and dynamics, and viral metagenomics. My research uses a combination of traditional virology, microscopy (including transmission electron microscopy), molecular and cellular biology techniques in conjunction with modern techniques including next-generation sequencing, synthetic biology and bioinformatics. A brief overview of my current research projects is provided below.

  • Darren Martin (author of the most widely used recombination detection software; South Africa) and I have set up a wide collaborative network of scientists world-wide to study viral evolution though recombination, viral phylogeography and global viral movement patterns of the plant-infecting geminiviruses and nanoviruses. While initially our research was based in Africa and South America, recently we have also focused on the Pacific region. As a team, Philippe Roumagnac, Pierre Lefeuvre, Darren Martin and I are attempting to identify drivers of plant viral emergence in ecosystems.
  • In collaboration with Mya Breitbart, Karyna Rosario and Milen Marinov, I have embarked on a unique concept of using top end insect predators to sample viromes in various ecosystems. Additionally, my group has recently started looking at human and animal viruses vectored by black flies and mosquitoes in New Zealand and the pacific islands.
  • I have an active avian circoviurs disease research program with the Department of Conservation of New Zealand, Parc Zoologique et Forestier (New Caledonia), Bethany Jackson (Murdoch University, Australia), Tomasz Stenzel (University of Warmia and Mazury, Poland) and Tomasz Piasecki (Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Poland).
  • I am running a variety of viral discovery projects associated with various animals in the US, fruit bats in the pacific island of Tonga, various fungi, farm animals, insects and molluscs in New Zealand.
  • In a collaborative effort, David Ainley (penguin ecologist, USA), Grant Ballard (penguin ecologist, USA), Stacey Kim (marine ecologist, USA), Jennifer Burns (seal ecologist, USA) Melanie Massaro (avian ecologist, Australia), Joseph Levy (permafrost geologist, USA), William Davison (fish physiologist, New Zealand) and I are exploring the diversity of viral communities in the Antarctic.
Publications
  1. Richet C, Kraberger S, Filloux D, Bernardo P, Harkins GW, Martin DP, Roumagnac P, Varsani A. 2019. Novel circular DNA viruses associated with Apiaceae and Poaceae from South Africa and New Zealand. Arch Virol 164:237-242.
  2. Roux S, Adriaenssens EM, Dutilh BE, Koonin EV, Kropinski AM, Krupovic M, Kuhn JH, Lavigne R, Brister JR, Varsani A, Amid C, Aziz RK, Bordenstein SR, Bork P, Breitbart M, Cochrane GR, Daly RA, Desnues C, Duhaime MB, Emerson JB, Enault F, Fuhrman JA, Hingamp P, Hugenholtz P, Hurwitz BL, Ivanova NN, Labonté JM, Lee K-B, Malmstrom RR, Martinez-Garcia M, Mizrachi IK, Ogata H, Páez-Espino D, Petit M-A, Putonti C, Rattei T, Reyes A, Rodriguez-Valera F, Rosario K, Schriml L, Schulz F, Steward GF, Sullivan MB, Sunagawa S, Suttle CA, Temperton B, Tringe SG, Thurber RV, Webster NS, Whiteson KL, Wilhelm SW, Wommack KE, Woyke T, Wrighton KC, Yilmaz P, Yoshida T, Young MJ, Yutin N, Allen LZ, Kyrpides NC, Eloe-Fadrosh EA (2019) Minimum Information about an Uncultivated Virus Genome (MIUViG). Nature Biotechnology 37:29-37
  3. Siddell SG, Walker PJ, Lefkowitz EJ, Mushegian AR, Adams MJ, Dutilh BE, Gorbalenya AE, Harrach B, Harrison RL, Junglen S, Knowles NJ, Kropinski AM, Krupovic M, Kuhn JH, Nibert M, Rubino L, Sabanadzovic S, Sanfaçon H, Simmonds P, Varsani A, Zerbini FM, Davison AJ (2019) Additional changes to taxonomy ratified in a special vote by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (October 2018). Arch Viro 164:943-946
  4. Bernardo P, Charles-Dominique T, Barakat M, Ortet P, Fernandez E, Filloux D, Hartnady P, Rebelo TA, Cousins SR, Mesleard F, Cohez D, Yavercovski N, Varsani A, Harkins GW, Peterschmitt M, Malmstrom CM, Martin DP, Roumagnac P. 2018. Geometagenomics illuminates the impact of agriculture on the distribution and prevalence of plant viruses at the ecosystem scale. ISME J 12:173-184.
  5. Briddon RW, Martin DP, Roumagnac P, Navas-Castillo J, Fiallo-Olive E, Moriones E, Lett JM, Zerbini FM, Varsani A. 2018. Alphasatellitidae: a new family with two subfamilies for the classification of geminivirus- and nanovirus-associated alphasatellites. Arch Virol 163: 2587-2600.
  6. Claverie S, Bernardo P, Kraberger S, Hartnady P, Lefeuvre P, Lett JM, Galzi S, Filloux D, Harkins GW, Varsani A, Martin DP, Roumagnac P. 2018. From Spatial Metagenomics to Molecular Characterization of Plant Viruses: A Geminivirus Case Study. Adv Virus Res 101:55-83.
  7. Crane A, Goebel ME, Kraberger S, Stone AC, Varsani A. 2018. Novel anelloviruses identified in buccal swabs of Antarctic fur seals. Virus Genes 54:719-723.
  8. Davoodi Z, Bejerman N, Richet C, Filloux D, Kumari SG, Chatzivassiliou EK, Galzi S, Julian C, Samarfard S, Trucco V, Giolitti F, Fiallo-Olive E, Navas-Castillo J, Asaad N, Moukahel AR, Hijazi J, Mghandef S, Heydarnejad J, Massumi H, Varsani A, Dietzgen RG, Harkins GW, Martin DP, Roumagnac P. 2018. The Westward Journey of Alfalfa Leaf Curl Virus. Viruses 10:e542.
  9. Fontenele RS, Abreu RA, Lamas NS, Alves-Freitas DMT, Vidal AH, Poppiel RR, Melo FL, Lacorte C, Martin DP, Campos MA, Varsani A, Ribeiro SG. 2018. Passion Fruit Chlorotic Mottle Virus: Molecular Characterization of a New Divergent Geminivirus in Brazil. Viruses 10:e169.
  10. Fontenele RS, Alves-Freitas DMT, Silva PIT, Foresti J, Silva PR, Godinho MT, Varsani A, Ribeiro SG. 2018. Discovery of the first maize-infecting mastrevirus in the Americas using a vector-enabled metagenomics approach. Arch Virol 163:263-267.
  11. Gallet R, Kraberger S, Filloux D, Galzi S, Fontes H, Martin DP, Varsani A, Roumagnac P. 2018. Nanovirus-alphasatellite complex identified in Vicia cracca in the Rhone delta region of France. Arch Virol 163:695-700.
  12. Hasanvand V, Kamali M, Heydarnejad J, Massumi H, Kvarnheden A, Varsani A. 2018. Identification of a new turncurtovirus in the leafhopper Circulifer haematoceps and the host plant species Sesamum indicum. Virus Genes 54:840-845.
  13. Heydarnejad J, Kamali M, Hassanvand V, Massumi H, Shamshiri M, Varsani A. 2018. Turnip leaf curl disease associated with two begomoviruses in south-eastern Iran. Tropical Plant Pathology 43:165-169.
  14. Kazlauskas D, Varsani A, Krupovic M. 2018. Pervasive Chimerism in the Replication-Associated Proteins of Uncultured Single-Stranded DNA Viruses. Viruses 10:e187.
  15. King AMQ, Lefkowitz EJ, Mushegian AR, Adams MJ, Dutilh BE, Gorbalenya AE, Harrach B, Harrison RL, Junglen S, Knowles NJ, Kropinski AM, Krupovic M, Kuhn JH, Nibert ML, Rubino L, Sabanadzovic S, Sanfacon H, Siddell SG, Simmonds P, Varsani A, Zerbini FM, Davison AJ. 2018. Changes to taxonomy and the International Code of Virus Classification and Nomenclature ratified by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (2018). Arch Virol 163:2601–263.
  16. Kraberger S, Hofstetter RW, Potter KA, Farkas K, Varsani A. 2018. Genomoviruses associated with mountain and western pine beetles. Virus Res 256:17-20.
  17. Kraberger S, Kumari SG, Najar A, Stainton D, Martin DP, Varsani A. 2018. Molecular characterization of faba bean necrotic yellows viruses in Tunisia. Arch Virol 163:687-694.
  18. Kraberger S, Visnovsky GA, van Toor RF, Male MF, Waits K, Fontenele RS, Varsani A. 2018. Genome Sequences of Two Single-Stranded DNA Viruses Identified in Varroa destructor. Genome Announc 6:00107-18.
  19. Kraberger S, Waits K, Ivan J, Newkirk E, VandeWoude S, Varsani A. 2018. Identification of circular single-stranded DNA viruses in faecal samples of Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis), moose (Alces alces) and snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) inhabiting the Colorado San Juan Mountains. Infect Genet Evol 64:1-8.
  20. Rosario K, Mettel KA, Benner BE, Johnson R, Scott C, Yusseff-Vanegas SZ, Baker CCM, Cassill DL, Storer C, Varsani A, Breitbart M. 2018. Virus discovery in all three major lineages of terrestrial arthropods highlights the diversity of single-stranded DNA viruses associated with invertebrates. PeerJ 6:e5761.
  21. Smeele ZE, Ainley DG, Varsani A. 2018. Viruses associated with Antarctic wildlife: From serology based detection to identification of genomes using high throughput sequencing. Virus Res 243:91-105.
  22. Smeele ZE, Burns JM, Van Doorsaler K, Fontenele RS, Waits K, Stainton D, Shero MR, Beltran RS, Kirkham AL, Berngartt R, Kraberger S, Varsani A. 2018. Diverse papillomaviruses identified in Weddell seals. J Gen Virol 99:549-557.
  23. Somayaji V, DeNardo D, Sayres MAW, Blake M, Waits K, Fontenele RS, Kraberger S, Varsani A. 2018. Genome Sequence of a Single-Stranded DNA Virus Identified in Gila Monster Feces. Microbiol Res Announc 7:e00925-18.
  24. Stenzel T, Dziewulska D, Muhire BM, Hartnady P, Kraberger S, Martin DP, Varsani A. 2018. Recombinant Goose Circoviruses Circulating in Domesticated and Wild Geese in Poland. Viruses 10:e107.
  25. Van Doorslaer K, Kraberger S, Austin C, Farkas K, Bergeman M, Paunil E, Davison W, Varsani A. 2018. Fish polyomaviruses belong to two distinct evolutionary lineages. J Gen Virol 99:567-573.
  26. Varsani A, Krupovic M. 2018. Correction to: Smacoviridae: a new family of animal-associated single-stranded DNA viruses. Arch Virol 163:3213-3214.
  27. Varsani A, Krupovic M. 2018. Smacoviridae: a new family of animal-associated single-stranded DNA viruses. Arch Virol 163:2005-2015.
  28. Varsani A, Lefeuvre P, Roumagnac P, Martin D. 2018. Notes on recombination and reassortment in multipartite/segmented viruses. Curr Opin Virol 33:156-166.
  29. Vidal AH, Sanches MM, Alves-Freitas DMT, Abreu EFM, Lacorte C, Pinheiro-Lima B, Rosa RCC, Jesus ON, Campos MA, Varsani A. 2018. First World Report of Cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus Infecting Passionfruit. Plant Disease 102:2665
  30. Waits K, Bradley RW, Warzybok P, Kraberger S, Fontenele RS, Varsani A. 2018. Genome Sequence of a Gyrovirus Associated with Ashy Storm-Petrel. Microbiol Res Announc 7:e00958-18.
  31. Waits K, Edwards MJ, Cobb IN, Fontenele RS, Varsani A. 2018. Identification of an anellovirus and genomoviruses in ixodid ticks. Virus Genes 54:155-159.
  32. Adams MJ, Lefkowitz EJ, King AM, Harrach B, Harrison RL, Knowles NJ, Kropinski AM, Krupovic M, Kuhn JH, Mushegian AR, Nibert ML, Sabanadzovic S, Sanfacon H, Siddell SG, Simmonds P, Varsani A, Zerbini FM, Orton RJ, Smith DB, Gorbalenya AE, Davison AJ. 2017. 50 years of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses: progress and prospects. Arch Virol 162:1441-1446.
  33. Adams MJ, Lefkowitz EJ, King AMQ, Harrach B, Harrison RL, Knowles NJ, Kropinski AM, Krupovic M, Kuhn JH, Mushegian AR, Nibert M, Sabanadzovic S, Sanfacon H, Siddell SG, Simmonds P, Varsani A, Zerbini FM, Gorbalenya AE, Davison AJ. 2017. Changes to taxonomy and the International Code of Virus Classification and Nomenclature ratified by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (2017). Arch Virol 162:2505-2538.
  34. Boukari W, Alcala-Briseno RI, Kraberger S, Fernandez E, Filloux D, Daugrois JH, Comstock JC, Lett JM, Martin DP, Varsani A, Roumagnac P, Polston JE, Rott PC. 2017. Occurrence of a novel mastrevirus in sugarcane germplasm collections in Florida, Guadeloupe and Reunion. Virol J 14:146.
  35. Breitbart M, Delwart E, Rosario K, Segales J, Varsani A, ICTV Report Consortium. 2017. ICTV Virus Taxonomy Profile: Circoviridae. J Gen Virol 98:1997-1998.
  36. Fahsbender E, Burns JM, Kim S, Kraberger S, Frankfurter G, Eilers AA, Shero MR, Beltran R, Kirkham A, McCorkell R, Berngartt RK, Male MF, Ballard G, Ainley DG, Breitbart M, Varsani A. 2017. Diverse and highly recombinant anelloviruses associated with Weddell seals in Antarctica. Virus Evol 3:vex017.
  37. Fontenele RS, Lamas NS, Lacorte C, Lacerda ALM, Varsani A, Ribeiro SG. 2017. A novel geminivirus identified in tomato and cleome plants sampled in Brazil. Virus Res 240:175-179.
  38. Godinho MT, Paula DP, Varsani A, Ribeiro SG. 2017. Genome Sequence of Cauliflower Mosaic Virus Identified in Earwigs (Doru luteipes) through a Metagenomic Approach. Genome Announc 5:00043-17.
  39. Gonçalves M, Godinho M, Alves-Freitas D, Varsani A, Ribeiro S. 2017. First report of maize yellow mosaic virus infecting maize in Brazil. Plant Disease 101:2156.
  40. Heydarnejad J, Kamali M, Massumi H, Kvarnheden A, Male MF, Kraberger S, Stainton D, Martin DP, Varsani A. 2017. Identification of a Nanovirus-Alphasatellite Complex in Sophora alopecuroides. Virus Res 235:24-32.
  41. Kamali M, Heydarnejad J, Pouramini N, Masumi H, Farkas K, Kraberger S, Varsani A. 2017. Genome Sequences of Beet curly top Iran virus, Oat dwarf virus, Turnip curly top virus, and Wheat dwarf virus Identified in Leafhoppers. Genome Announc 5:01674-16.
  42. Kazlauskas D, Dayaram A, Kraberger S, Goldstien S, Varsani A, Krupovic M. 2017. Evolutionary history of ssDNA bacilladnaviruses features horizontal acquisition of the capsid gene from ssRNA nodaviruses. Virology 504:114-121.
  43. Kraberger S, Geering ADW, Walters M, Martin DP, Varsani A. 2017. Novel mastreviruses identified in Australian wild rice. Virus Res 238:193-197.
  44. Kraberger S, Polston JE, Capobianco HM, Alcala-Briseno RI, Fontenele RS, Varsani A. 2017. Genomovirus Genomes Recovered from Echinothrips americanus Sampled in Florida, USA. Genome Announc 5:00445-17.
  45. Kraberger S, Saumtally S, Pande D, Khoodoo MHR, Dhayan S, Dookun-Saumtally A, Shepherd DN, Hartnady P, Atkinson R, Lakay FM, Hanson B, Redhi D, Monjane AL, Windram OP, Walters M, Oluwafemi S, Michel-Lett J, Lefeuvre P, Martin DP, Varsani A. 2017. Molecular diversity, geographic distribution and host range of monocot-infecting mastreviruses in Africa and surrounding islands. Virus Res 238:171-178.
  46. Maddahian M, Massumi H, Heydarnejad J, Pour AH, Varsani A. 2017. Characterization of Iranian Tomato aspermy virus isolates with a variant 2b gene sequence. Tropical Plant Pathology 42:475-484.
  47. Najar A, Fekih IB, Ghanem HB, Kumari SG, Varsani A. 2017. Barley yellow dwarf virus-PAV management using seed-treatment with the insecticide imidacloprid. Arab Journal of Plant Protection 35:178-184.
  48. Najar A, Hamdi I, Varsani A. 2017. Barley yellow dwarf virus in barley crops in Tunisia: prevalence and molecular characterization. Phytopathologia Mediterranea 56:111-118.
  49. Najar A, Hamdi I, Varsani A, Duran-Vila N. 2017. Citrus viroids in Tunisia: Prevalence and molecular characterization. Journal of Plant Pathology 99.
  50. Nonis J, Premaratne A, Billington C, Varsani A. 2017. Genome Sequence of a Podovirus (AAPEc6) Isolated from Wastewater in New Zealand That Infects Escherichia coli O45:H10. Genome Announc 5:00462-17.
  51. Ouattara A, Tiendrebeogo F, Lefeuvre P, Hoareau M, Claverie S, Traore EV, Barro N, Traore O, Varsani A, Lett JM. 2017. New strains of chickpea chlorotic dwarf virus discovered on diseased papaya and tomato plants in Burkina Faso. Arch Virol 162:1791-1794.
  52. Pande D, Madzokere E, Hartnady P, Kraberger S, Hadfield J, Rosario K, Jaschke A, Monjane AL, Owor BE, Dida MM, Shepherd DN, Martin DP, Varsani A, Harkins GW. 2017. The role of Kenya in the trans-African spread of maize streak virus strain A. Virus Res 232:69-76.
  53. Pang L, Robson B, Farkas K, McGill E, Varsani A, Gillot L, Li J, Abraham P. 2017. Tracking effluent discharges in undisturbed stony soil and alluvial gravel aquifer using synthetic DNA tracers. Sci Total Environ 592:144-152.
  54. Postler TS, Clawson AN, Amarasinghe GK, Basler CF, Bavari S, Benko M, Blasdell KR, Briese T, Buchmeier MJ, Bukreyev A, Calisher CH, Chandran K, Charrel R, Clegg CS, Collins PL, Juan Carlos T, Derisi JL, Dietzgen RG, Dolnik O, Durrwald R, Dye JM, Easton AJ, Emonet S, Formenty P, Fouchier RAM, Ghedin E, Gonzalez JP, Harrach B, Hewson R, Horie M, Jiang D, Kobinger G, Kondo H, Kropinski AM, Krupovic M, Kurath G, Lamb RA, Leroy EM, Lukashevich IS, Maisner A, Mushegian AR, Netesov SV, Nowotny N, Patterson JL, Payne SL, PaWeska JT, Peters CJ, Radoshitzky SR, Rima BK, Romanowski V, Rubbenstroth D, Sabanadzovic S, Sanfaçon H, Salvato MS, Schwemmle M, Smither SJ, Stenglein MD, Stone DM, Takada A, Tesh RB, Tomonaga K, Tordo N, Towner JS, Vasilakis N, Volchkov VE, Wahl-Jensen V, Walker PJ, Wang LF, Varsani A, Whitfield AE, Zerbini FM, Kuhn JH. 2017. Possibility and Challenges of Conversion of Current Virus Species Names to Linnaean Binomials. Syst Biol 66:463-473.
  55. Rosario K, Breitbart M, Harrach B, Segales J, Delwart E, Biagini P, Varsani A. 2017. Revisiting the taxonomy of the family Circoviridae: establishment of the genus Cyclovirus and removal of the genus Gyrovirus. Arch Virol 162:1447-1463.
  56. Simmonds P, Adams MJ, Benko M, Breitbart M, Brister JR, Carstens EB, Davison AJ, Delwart E, Gorbalenya AE, Harrach B, Hull R, King AM, Koonin EV, Krupovic M, Kuhn JH, Lefkowitz EJ, Nibert ML, Orton R, Roossinck MJ, Sabanadzovic S, Sullivan MB, Suttle CA, Tesh RB, van der Vlugt RA, Varsani A, Zerbini FM. 2017. Consensus statement: Virus taxonomy in the age of metagenomics. Nat Rev Microbiol 15:161-168.
  57. Stainton D, Martin DP, Collings DA, Varsani A. 2017. Comparative analysis of common regions found in babuviruses and alphasatellite molecules. Arch Virol 162:849-855.
  58. Susi H, Laine AL, Filloux D, Kraberger S, Farkas K, Bernardo P, Frilander MJ, Martin DP, Varsani A, Roumagnac P. 2017. Genome sequences of a capulavirus infecting Plantago lanceolata in the Aland archipelago of Finland. Arch Virol 162:2041-2045.
  59. Van Doorslaer K, Ruoppolo V, Schmidt A, Lescroel A, Jongsomjit D, Elrod M, Kraberger S, Stainton D, Dugger KM, Ballard G, Ainley DG, Varsani A. 2017. Unique genome organization of non-mammalian papillomaviruses provides insights into the evolution of viral early proteins. Virus Evol 3:vex027.
  60. Varsani A, Frankfurter G, Stainton D, Male MF, Kraberger S, Burns JM. 2017. Identification of a polyomavirus in Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii) from the Ross Sea (Antarctica). Arch Virol 162:1403-1407.
  61. Varsani A, Krupovic M. 2017. Sequence-based taxonomic framework for the classification of uncultured single-stranded DNA viruses of the family Genomoviridae. Virus Evol 3:vew037.
  62. Varsani A, Roumagnac P, Fuchs M, Navas-Castillo J, Moriones E, Idris A, Briddon RW, Rivera-Bustamante R, Murilo Zerbini F, Martin DP. 2017. Capulavirus and Grablovirus: two new genera in the family Geminiviridae. Arch Virol 162:1819-1831.
  63. Walters M, Bawuro M, Christopher A, Knight A, Kraberger S, Stainton D, Chapman H, Varsani A. 2017. Novel Single-Stranded DNA Virus Genomes Recovered from Chimpanzee Feces Sampled from the Mambilla Plateau in Nigeria. Genome Announc 5:01715-16.
  64. Zerbini FM, Briddon RW, Idris A, Martin DP, Moriones E, Navas-Castillo J, Rivera-Bustamante R, Roumagnac P, Varsani A, ICTV Report Consortium. 2017. ICTV Virus Taxonomy Profile: Geminiviridae. J Gen Virol 98:131-133.
  65. Adams MJ, Lefkowitz EJ, King AM, Harrach B, Harrison RL, Knowles NJ, Kropinski AM, Krupovic M, Kuhn JH, Mushegian AR, Nibert M, Sabanadzovic S, Sanfacon H, Siddell SG, Simmonds P, Varsani A, Zerbini FM, Gorbalenya AE, Davison AJ. 2016. Ratification vote on taxonomic proposals to the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (2016). Arch Virol 161:2921-49.
  66. Bananej K, Kraberger S, Varsani A. 2016. Okra enation leaf curl virus in papaya from Iran displaying severe leaf curl symptoms. Journal of Plant Pathology:637-639.
  67. Bernardo P, Muhire B, Francois S, Deshoux M, Hartnady P, Farkas K, Kraberger S, Filloux D, Fernandez E, Galzi S, Ferdinand R, Granier M, Marais A, Monge Blasco P, Candresse T, Escriu F, Varsani A, Harkins GW, Martin DP, Roumagnac P. 2016. Molecular characterization and prevalence of two capulaviruses: Alfalfa leaf curl virus from France and Euphorbia caput-medusae latent virus from South Africa. Virology 493:142-53.
  68. Buck CB, Van Doorslaer K, Peretti A, Geoghegan EM, Tisza MJ, An P, Katz JP, Pipas JM, McBride AA, Camus AC, McDermott AJ, Dill JA, Delwart E, Ng TF, Farkas K, Austin C, Kraberger S, Davison W, Pastrana DV, Varsani A. 2016. The Ancient Evolutionary History of Polyomaviruses. PLoS Pathog 12:e1005574.
  69. Dayaram A, Galatowitsch ML, Arguello-Astorga GR, van Bysterveldt K, Kraberger S, Stainton D, Harding JS, Roumagnac P, Martin DP, Lefeuvre P, Varsani A. 2016. Diverse circular replication-associated protein encoding viruses circulating in invertebrates within a lake ecosystem. Infect Genet Evol 39:304-316.
  70. De Bruyn A, Harimalala M, Zinga I, Mabvakure BM, Hoareau M, Ravigne V, Walters M, Reynaud B, Varsani A, Harkins GW, Martin DP, Lett JM, Lefeuvre P. 2016. Divergent evolutionary and epidemiological dynamics of cassava mosaic geminiviruses in Madagascar. BMC Evol Biol 16:182.
  71. Frost CM, Peralta G, Rand TA, Didham RK, Varsani A, Tylianakis JM. 2016. Apparent competition drives community-wide parasitism rates and changes in host abundance across ecosystem boundaries. Nat Commun 7:12644.
  72. Howles PA, Gebbie LK, Collings DA, Varsani A, Broad RC, Ohms S, Birch RJ, Cork AH, Arioli T, Williamson RE. 2016. A temperature-sensitive allele of a putative mRNA splicing helicase down-regulates many cell wall genes and causes radial swelling in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Mol Biol 91:1-13.
  73. Jennings S, Varsani A, Dugger KM, Ballard G, Ainley DG. 2016. Sex-Based Differences in Adelie Penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) Chick Growth Rates and Diet. PLoS One 11:e0149090.
  74. Kamali M, Heydarnejad J, Massumi H, Kvarnheden A, Kraberger S, Varsani A. 2016. Molecular diversity of turncurtoviruses in Iran. Arch Virol 161:551-61.
  75. Khalifa ME, Varsani A, Ganley ARD, Pearson MN. 2016. Comparison of Illumina de novo assembled and Sanger sequenced viral genomes: A case study for RNA viruses recovered from the plant pathogenic fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Virus Res 219:51-57.
  76. Knafler GJ, Ortiz-Catedral L, Jackson B, Varsani A, Grueber CE, Robertson BC, Jamieson IG. 2016. Comparison of beak and feather disease virus prevalence and immunity-associated genetic diversity over time in an island population of red-crowned parakeets. Arch Virol 161:811-20.
  77. Krupovic M, Ghabrial SA, Jiang D, Varsani A. 2016. Genomoviridae: a new family of widespread single-stranded DNA viruses. Arch Virol 161:2633-43.
  78. Lamas NS, Fontenele RS, Melo FL, Costa AF, Varsani A, Ribeiro SG. 2016. Complete Genome Sequence of a Genomovirus Associated with Common Bean Plant Leaves in Brazil. Genome Announc 4:01247-16.
  79. Mabvakure B, Martin DP, Kraberger S, Cloete L, van Brunschot S, Geering ADW, Thomas JE, Bananej K, Lett JM, Lefeuvre P, Varsani A, Harkins GW. 2016. Ongoing geographical spread of Tomato yellow leaf curl virus. Virology 498:257-264.
  80. Male MF, Kraberger S, Stainton D, Kami V, Varsani A. 2016. Cycloviruses, gemycircularviruses and other novel replication-associated protein encoding circular viruses in Pacific flying fox (Pteropus tonganus) faeces. Infect Genet Evol 39:279-292.
  81. Marinov M, Amaya-Perilla C, Holwell GI, Varsani A, Bysterveldt KV, Kraberger S, Stainton D, Dayaram A, Curtis N, Cruickshank RH, Paterson A. 2016. Geometric morphometrics and molecular systematics of Xanthocnemis sobrina (McLachlan, 1873) (Odonata: Coenagrionidae) and comparison to its congeners. Zootaxa 4078:84-120.
  82. Rosario K, Marr C, Varsani A, Kraberger S, Stainton D, Moriones E, Polston JE, Breitbart M. 2016. Begomovirus-Associated Satellite DNA Diversity Captured Through Vector-Enabled Metagenomic (VEM) Surveys Using Whiteflies (Aleyrodidae). Viruses 8:e36.
  83. Stainton D, Martin DP, Collings DA, Thomas JE, Varsani A. 2016. Identification and in silico characterisation of defective molecules associated with isolates of banana bunchy top virus. Arch Virol 161:1019-26.
  84. Steel O, Kraberger S, Sikorski A, Young LM, Catchpole RJ, Stevens AJ, Ladley JJ, Coray DS, Stainton D, Dayaram A, Julian L, van Bysterveldt K, Varsani A. 2016. Circular replication-associated protein encoding DNA viruses identified in the faecal matter of various animals in New Zealand. Infect Genet Evol 43:151-64.
  85. Brown JK, Zerbini FM, Navas-Castillo J, Moriones E, Ramos-Sobrinho R, Silva JC, Fiallo-Olive E, Briddon RW, Hernandez-Zepeda C, Idris A, Malathi VG, Martin DP, Rivera-Bustamante R, Ueda S, Varsani A. 2015. Revision of Begomovirus taxonomy based on pairwise sequence comparisons. Arch Virol 160:1593-619.
  86. Collings DA, Collings BG, Julian L, Kurenbach B, Varsani A. 2015. Genome Sequences of Beak and Feather Disease Virus in Urban Rainbow Lorikeets (Trichoglossus haematodus). Genome Announc 3:00283-15.
  87. Dayaram A, Goldstien S, Arguello-Astorga GR, Zawar-Reza P, Gomez C, Harding JS, Varsani A. 2015. Diverse small circular DNA viruses circulating amongst estuarine molluscs. Infect Genet Evol 31:284-95.
  88. Dayaram A, Piasecki T, Chrzastek K, White R, Julian L, van Bysterveldt K, Varsani A. 2015. Avian Polyomavirus Genome Sequences Recovered from Parrots in Captive Breeding Facilities in Poland. Genome Announc 3:00986-15.
  89. Dayaram A, Potter KA, Pailes R, Marinov M, Rosenstein DD, Varsani A. 2015. Identification of diverse circular single-stranded DNA viruses in adult dragonflies and damselflies (Insecta: Odonata) of Arizona and Oklahoma, USA. Infect Genet Evol 30:278-287.
  90. Esmaeili M, Heydarnejad J, Massumi H, Varsani A. 2015. Analysis of watermelon chlorotic stunt virus and tomato leaf curl Palampur virus mixed and pseudo-recombination infections. Virus Genes 51:408-16.
  91. Fahsbender E, Hewson I, Rosario K, Tuttle AD, Varsani A, Breitbart M. 2015. Discovery of a novel circular DNA virus in the Forbes sea star, Asterias forbesi. Arch Virol 160:2349-51.
  92. Farkas K, Varsani A, Marjoshi D, Easingwood R, McGill E, Pang L. 2015. Size exclusion-based purification and PCR-based quantitation of MS2 bacteriophage particles for environmental applications. J Virol Methods 213:135-8.
  93. Farkas K, Varsani A, Pang L. 2015. Adsorption of Rotavirus, MS2 Bacteriophage and Surface-Modified Silica Nanoparticles to Hydrophobic Matter. Food Environ Virol 7:261-8.
  94. Jackson B, Heath A, Harvey C, Holyoake C, Jakob-Hoff R, Varsani A, Robertson I, Warren K. 2015. Knemidokoptinid (Epidermoptidae: Knemidokoptinae) Mite Infestation in Wild Red-Crowned Parakeets (Cyanoramphus Novaezelandiae): Correlations between Macroscopic and Microscopic Findings. J Wildl Dis 51:651-63.
  95. Jackson B, Varsani A, Holyoake C, Jakob-Hoff R, Robertson I, McInnes K, Empson R, Gray R, Nakagawa K, Warren K. 2015. Emerging infectious disease or evidence of endemicity? A multi-season study of beak and feather disease virus in wild red-crowned parakeets (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae). Arch Virol 160:2283-92.
  96. Kraberger S, Arguello-Astorga GR, Greenfield LG, Galilee C, Law D, Martin DP, Varsani A. 2015. Characterisation of a diverse range of circular replication-associated protein encoding DNA viruses recovered from a sewage treatment oxidation pond. Infect Genet Evol 31:73-86.
  97. Kraberger S, Farkas K, Bernardo P, Booker C, Arguello-Astorga GR, Mesleard F, Martin DP, Roumagnac P, Varsani A. 2015. Identification of novel Bromus- and Trifolium-associated circular DNA viruses. Arch Virol 160:1303-11.
  98. Kraberger S, Kumari SG, Hamed AA, Gronenborn B, Thomas JE, Sharman M, Harkins GW, Muhire BM, Martin DP, Varsani A. 2015. Molecular diversity of Chickpea chlorotic dwarf virus in Sudan: high rates of intra-species recombination - a driving force in the emergence of new strains. Infect Genet Evol 29:203-15.
  99. Kraberger S, Mumtaz H, Claverie S, Martin DP, Briddon RW, Varsani A. 2015. Identification of an Australian-like dicot-infecting mastrevirus in Pakistan. Arch Virol 160:825-30.
  100. Kumari S, Najar A, Timoumi S, Male M, Kraberger S, Varsani A. 2015. First report of Chickpea chlorotic dwarf virus naturally infecting chickpea in Tunisia. New Disease Reports 32:16.
  101. Male MF, Kami V, Kraberger S, Varsani A. 2015. Genome Sequences of Poaceae-Associated Gemycircularviruses from the Pacific Ocean Island of Tonga. Genome Announc 3:01144-15.
  102. Oppong A, Offei SK, Ofori K, Adu-Dapaah H, Lamptey JN, Kurenbach B, Walters M, Shepherd DN, Martin DP, Varsani A. 2015. Mapping the distribution of maize streak virus genotypes across the forest and transition zones of Ghana. Arch Virol 160:483-92.
  103. Peralta G, Frost CM, Didham RK, Varsani A, Tylianakis JM. 2015. Phylogenetic diversity and co-evolutionary signals among trophic levels change across a habitat edge. J Anim Ecol 84:364-72.
  104. Rosario K, Seah YM, Marr C, Varsani A, Kraberger S, Stainton D, Moriones E, Polston JE, Duffy S, Breitbart M. 2015. Vector-Enabled Metagenomic (VEM) Surveys Using Whiteflies (Aleyrodidae) Reveal Novel Begomovirus Species in the New and Old Worlds. Viruses 7:5553-5570.
  105. Roumagnac P, Granier M, Bernardo P, Deshoux M, Ferdinand R, Galzi S, Fernandez E, Julian C, Abt I, Filloux D, Mesleard F, Varsani A, Blanc S, Martin DP, Peterschmitt M. 2015. Alfalfa Leaf Curl Virus: an Aphid-Transmitted Geminivirus. J Virol 89:9683-8.
  106. Stainton D, Halafihi M, Collings DA, Varsani A. 2015. Genome Sequence of Banana Streak MY Virus from the Pacific Ocean Island of Tonga. Genome Announc 3:00543-15.
  107. Stainton D, Martin DP, Muhire BM, Lolohea S, Halafihi M, Lepoint P, Blomme G, Crew KS, Sharman M, Kraberger S, Dayaram A, Walters M, Collings DA, Mabvakure B, Lemey P, Harkins GW, Thomas JE, Varsani A. 2015. The global distribution of Banana bunchy top virus reveals little evidence for frequent recent, human-mediated long distance dispersal events. Virus Evol 1:vev009.
  108. Stenzel T, Farkas K, Varsani A. 2015. Genome Sequence of a Diverse Goose Circovirus Recovered from Greylag Goose. Genome Announc 3:00767-15.
  109. Varsani A, Porzig EL, Jennings S, Kraberger S, Farkas K, Julian L, Massaro M, Ballard G, Ainley DG. 2015. Identification of an avian polyomavirus associated with Adelie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae). J Gen Virol 96:851-7.
  110. Amaya-Perilla C, Marinov M, Holwell G, Varsani A, Stainton D, Kraberger S, Dayaram A, Curtis N, Cruickshank R, Paterson A. 2014. Comparative study of the Chatham Islands Odonata, II: Morphometric and molecular comparison between Xanthocnemis tuanuii Rowe, 1981 and X. zealandica (McLachlan, 1873) with notes on the taxonomic position of Xanthocnemis sinclairi Rowe, 1987 (Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae). International Dragonfly Fund - Report 75: 1-27
  111. Baron HR, Howe L, Varsani A, Doneley RJ. 2014. Disease screening of three breeding populations of adult exhibition budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) in New Zealand reveals a high prevalence of a novel polyomavirus and avian malaria infection. Avian Dis 58:111-7.
  112. Candresse T, Filloux D, Muhire B, Julian C, Galzi S, Fort G, Bernardo P, Daugrois JH, Fernandez E, Martin DP, Varsani A, Roumagnac P. 2014. Appearances can be deceptive: revealing a hidden viral infection with deep sequencing in a plant quarantine context. PLoS One 9:e102945.
  113. Dayaram A, Galatowitsch M, Harding JS, Arguello-Astorga GR, Varsani A. 2014. Novel circular DNA viruses identified in Procordulia grayi and Xanthocnemis zealandica larvae using metagenomic approaches. Infect Genet Evol 22:134-41.
  114. Du Z, Tang Y, Zhang S, She X, Lan G, Varsani A, He Z. 2014. Identification and molecular characterization of a single-stranded circular DNA virus with similarities to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum hypovirulence-associated DNA virus 1. Arch Virol 159:1527-31.
  115. Grigoras I, Ginzo AI, Martin DP, Varsani A, Romero J, Mammadov A, Huseynova IM, Aliyev JA, Kheyr-Pour A, Huss H, Ziebell H, Timchenko T, Vetten HJ, Gronenborn B. 2014. Genome diversity and evidence of recombination and reassortment in nanoviruses from Europe. J Gen Virol 95:1178-91.
  116. Harkins GW, Martin DP, Christoffels A, Varsani A. 2014. Towards inferring the global movement of beak and feather disease virus. Virology 450-451:24-33.
  117. Jackson B, Harvey C, Galbraith J, Robertson M, Warren K, Holyoake C, Julian L, Varsani A. 2014. Clinical beak and feather disease virus infection in wild juvenile eastern rosellas of New Zealand; biosecurity implications for wildlife care facilities. N Z Vet J 62:297-301.
  118. Jackson B, Lorenzo A, Theuerkauf J, Barnaud A, Duval T, Guichard P, Bloc H, Baouma A, Stainton D, Kraberge S, Murphy S, Clark N, Dillon C, Knight T, Varsani A. 2014. Preliminary surveillance for beak and feather disease virus in wild parrots of New Caledonia: implications of a reservoir species for Ouvea Parakeets. EMU - Austral Ornithology 114:283-289.
  119. Massumi H, Poormohammadi S, Pishyar S, Maddahian M, Heydarnejad J, Hosseini-Pour A, van Bysterveldt K, Varsani A. 2014. Molecular characterization and field survey of Iranian potato virus X isolates. Virusdisease 25:338-44.
  120. Monjane AL, Martin DP, Lakay F, Muhire BM, Pande D, Varsani A, Harkins G, Shepherd DN, Rybicki EP. 2014. Extensive recombination-induced disruption of genetic interactions is highly deleterious but can be partially reversed by small numbers of secondary recombination events. J Virol 88:7843-51.
  121. Muhire BM, Golden M, Murrell B, Lefeuvre P, Lett JM, Gray A, Poon AY, Ngandu NK, Semegni Y, Tanov EP, Monjane AL, Harkins GW, Varsani A, Shepherd DN, Martin DP. 2014. Evidence of pervasive biologically functional secondary structures within the genomes of eukaryotic single-stranded DNA viruses. J Virol 88:1972-89.
  122. Muhire BM, Varsani A, Martin DP. 2014. SDT: a virus classification tool based on pairwise sequence alignment and identity calculation. PLoS One 9:e108277.
  123. Ng TF, Chen LF, Zhou Y, Shapiro B, Stiller M, Heintzman PD, Varsani A, Kondov NO, Wong W, Deng X, Andrews TD, Moorman BJ, Meulendyk T, MacKay G, Gilbertson RL, Delwart E. 2014. Preservation of viral genomes in 700-y-old caribou feces from a subarctic ice patch. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 111:16842-7.
  124. Oluwafemi S, Kraberger S, Shepherd DN, Martin DP, Varsani A. 2014. A high degree of African streak virus diversity within Nigerian maize fields includes a new mastrevirus from Axonopus compressus. Arch Virol 159:2765-70.
  125. Pang L, Farkas K, Bennett G, Varsani A, Easingwood R, Tilley R, Nowostawska U, Lin S. 2014. Mimicking filtration and transport of rotavirus and adenovirus in sand media using DNA-labeled, protein-coated silica nanoparticles. Water Res 62:167-179.
  126. Shamsadden-Saeed F, Massumi H, Moradi S, Maddahian M, Heydarnejad J, Pour AH, Varsani A. 2014. Incidence and characterization of Potato virus V infections in Iran. Virusdisease 25:78-84.
  127. Shepherd DN, Dugdale B, Martin DP, Varsani A, Lakay FM, Bezuidenhout ME, Monjane AL, Thomson JA, Dale J, Rybicki EP. 2014. Inducible resistance to maize streak virus. PLoS One 9:e105932.
  128. Stenzel T, Piasecki T, Chrzastek K, Julian L, Muhire BM, Golden M, Martin DP, Varsani A. 2014. Pigeon circoviruses display patterns of recombination, genomic secondary structure and selection similar to those of beak and feather disease viruses. J Gen Virol 95:1338-51.
  129. Varsani A, Kraberger S, Jennings S, Porzig EL, Julian L, Massaro M, Pollard A, Ballard G, Ainley DG. 2014. A novel papillomavirus in Adelie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) faeces sampled at the Cape Crozier colony, Antarctica. J Gen Virol 95:1352-65.
  130. Varsani A, Martin DP, Navas-Castillo J, Moriones E, Hernandez-Zepeda C, Idris A, Murilo Zerbini F, Brown JK. 2014. Revisiting the classification of curtoviruses based on genome-wide pairwise identity. Arch Virol 159:1873-82.
  131. Varsani A, Navas-Castillo J, Moriones E, Hernandez-Zepeda C, Idris A, Brown JK, Murilo Zerbini F, Martin DP. 2014. Establishment of three new genera in the family Geminiviridae: Becurtovirus, Eragrovirus and Turncurtovirus. Arch Virol 159:2193-203.
  132. Zawar-Reza P, Arguello-Astorga GR, Kraberger S, Julian L, Stainton D, Broady PA, Varsani A. 2014. Diverse small circular single-stranded DNA viruses identified in a freshwater pond on the McMurdo Ice Shelf (Antarctica). Infect Genet Evol 26:132-8.
  133. Dayaram A, Goldstien S, Zawar-Reza P, Gomez C, Harding JS, Varsani A. 2013. Identification of Starling Circovirus in an Estuarine Mollusc (Amphibola crenata) in New Zealand Using Metagenomic Approaches. Genome Announc 1:00278-13.
  134. Dayaram A, Goldstien S, Zawar-Reza P, Gomez C, Harding JS, Varsani A. 2013. Novel ssDNA virus recovered from estuarine Mollusc (Amphibola crenata) whose replication associated protein (Rep) shares similarities with Rep-like sequences of bacterial origin. J Gen Virol 94:1104-10.
  135. Dayaram A, Potter KA, Moline AB, Rosenstein DD, Marinov M, Thomas JE, Breitbart M, Rosario K, Arguello-Astorga GR, Varsani A. 2013. High global diversity of cycloviruses amongst dragonflies. J Gen Virol 94:1827-40.
  136. Farkas K, Pang L, Lin S, Williamson W, Easingwood R, Fredericks R, Jaffer MA, Varsani A. 2013. A Gel Filtration-Based Method for the Purification of Infectious Rotavirus Particles for Environmental Research Applications. Food Environ Virol doi:10.1007/s12560-013-9122-4.
  137. Gharouni Kardani S, Heydarnejad J, Zakiaghl M, Mehrvar M, Kraberger S, Varsani A. 2013. Diversity of beet curly top Iran virus isolated from different hosts in Iran. Virus Genes 46:571-5.
  138. Heber S, Varsani A, Kuhn S, Girg A, Kempenaers B, Briskie J. 2013. The genetic rescue of two bottlenecked South Island robin populations using translocations of inbred donors. Proc Biol Sci 280:20122228.
  139. Hernandez-Zepeda C, Varsani A, Brown JK. 2013. Intergeneric recombination between a new, spinach-infecting curtovirus and a new geminivirus belonging to the genus Becurtovirus: first New World exemplar. Arch Virol 158:2245-54.
  140. Heydarnejad J, Hesari M, Massumi H, Varsani A. 2013. Incidence and natural hosts of Tomato leaf curl Palampur virus in Iran. Australasian Plant Pathology 42:195-203.
  141. Heydarnejad J, Keyvani N, Razavinejad S, Massumi H, Varsani A. 2013. Fulfilling Koch's postulates for beet curly top Iran virus and proposal for consideration of new genus in the family Geminiviridae. Arch Virol 158:435-43.
  142. Julian L, Piasecki T, Chrzastek K, Walters M, Muhire B, Harkins GW, Martin DP, Varsani A. 2013. Extensive recombination detected among beak and feather disease virus isolates from breeding facilities in Poland. J Gen Virol 94:1086-95.
  143. Kraberger S, Harkins GW, Kumari SG, Thomas JE, Schwinghamer MW, Sharman M, Collings DA, Briddon RW, Martin DP, Varsani A. 2013. Evidence that dicot-infecting mastreviruses are particularly prone to inter-species recombination and have likely been circulating in Australia for longer than in Africa and the Middle East. Virology 444:282-91.
  144. Kraberger S, Stainton D, Dayaram A, Zawar-Reza P, Gomez C, Harding JS, Varsani A. 2013. Discovery of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum Hypovirulence-Associated Virus-1 in Urban River Sediments of Heathcote and Styx Rivers in Christchurch City, New Zealand. Genome Announc 1:00559-13.
  145. McCarthy JK, Didham RK, Brockerhoff EG, van Bysterveldt KA, Varsani A. 2013. High-resolution DNA melt-curve analysis for cost-effective mass screening of pairwise species interactions. Mol Ecol Resour 13:908-17.
  146. Muhire B, Martin DP, Brown JK, Navas-Castillo J, Moriones E, Zerbini FM, Rivera-Bustamante R, Malathi VG, Briddon RW, Varsani A. 2013. A genome-wide pairwise-identity-based proposal for the classification of viruses in the genus Mastrevirus (family Geminiviridae). Arch Virol 158:1411-24.
  147. Ng TF, Alavandi S, Varsani A, Burghart S, Breitbart M. 2013. Metagenomic identification of a nodavirus and a circular ssDNA virus in semi-purified viral nucleic acids from the hepatopancreas of healthy Farfantepenaeus duorarum shrimp. Dis Aquat Organ 105:237-42.
  148. North RA, Kessans SA, Atkinson SC, Suzuki H, Watson AJ, Burgess BR, Angley LM, Hudson AO, Varsani A, Griffin MD, Fairbanks AJ, Dobson RC. 2013. Cloning, expression, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of N-acetylneuraminate lyase from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun 69:306-12.
  149. Piasecki T, Harkins GW, Chrzastek K, Julian L, Martin DP, Varsani A. 2013. Avihepadnavirus diversity in parrots is comparable to that found amongst all other avian species. Virology 438:98-105.
  150. Razavinejad S, Heydarnejad J, Kamali M, Massumi H, Kraberger S, Varsani A. 2013. Genetic diversity and host range studies of turnip curly top virus. Virus Genes 46:345-53.
  151. Rocha CS, Castillo-Urquiza GP, Lima AT, Silva FN, Xavier CA, Hora-Junior BT, Beserra-Junior JE, Malta AW, Martin DP, Varsani A, Alfenas-Zerbini P, Mizubuti ES, Zerbini FM. 2013. Brazilian begomovirus populations are highly recombinant, rapidly evolving, and segregated based on geographical location. J Virol 87:5784-99.
  152. Rosario K, Padilla-Rodriguez M, Kraberger S, Stainton D, Martin DP, Breitbart M, Varsani A. 2013. Discovery of a novel mastrevirus and alphasatellite-like circular DNA in dragonflies (Epiprocta) from Puerto Rico. Virus Res 171:231-7.
  153. Sikorski A, Arguello-Astorga GR, Dayaram A, Dobson RC, Varsani A. 2013. Discovery of a novel circular single-stranded DNA virus from porcine faeces. Arch Virol 158:283-9.
  154. Sikorski A, Dayaram A, Varsani A. 2013. Identification of a Novel Circular DNA Virus in New Zealand Fur Seal (Arctocephalus forsteri) Fecal Matter. Genome Announc 1:00558-13.
  155. Sikorski A, Kearvell J, Elkington S, Dayaram A, Arguello-Astorga GR, Varsani A. 2013. Novel ssDNA viruses discovered in yellow-crowned parakeet (Cyanoramphus auriceps) nesting material. Arch Virol 158:1603-7.
  156. Sikorski A, Massaro M, Kraberger S, Young LM, Smalley D, Martin DP, Varsani A. 2013. Novel myco-like DNA viruses discovered in the faecal matter of various animals. Virus Res 177:209-16.
  157. Weber BW, Kimani SW, Varsani A, Cowan DA, Hunter R, Venter GA, Gumbart JC, Sewell BT. 2013. The mechanism of the amidases: mutating the glutamate adjacent to the catalytic triad inactivates the enzyme due to substrate mispositioning. J Biol Chem 288:28514-23.
  158. Albuquerque LC, Varsani A, Fernandes FR, Pinheiro B, Martin DP, de Tarso Oliveira Ferreira P, Lemos TO, Inoue-Nagata AK. 2012. Further characterization of tomato-infecting begomoviruses in Brazil. Arch Virol 157:747-52.
  159. Dayaram A, Opong A, Jaschke A, Hadfield J, Baschiera M, Dobson RC, Offei SK, Shepherd DN, Martin DP, Varsani A. 2012. Molecular characterisation of a novel cassava associated circular ssDNA virus. Virus Res 166:130-5.
  160. De Bruyn A, Villemot J, Lefeuvre P, Villar E, Hoareau M, Harimalala M, Abdoul-Karime AL, Abdou-Chakour C, Reynaud B, Harkins GW, Varsani A, Martin DP, Lett JM. 2012. East African cassava mosaic-like viruses from Africa to Indian ocean islands: molecular diversity, evolutionary history and geographical dissemination of a bipartite begomovirus. BMC Evol Biol 12:228.
  161. Geering AD, Thomas JE, Holton T, Hadfield J, Varsani A. 2012. Paspalum striate mosaic virus: an Australian mastrevirus from Paspalum dilatatum. Arch Virol 157:193-7.
  162. Hadfield J, Thomas JE, Schwinghamer MW, Kraberger S, Stainton D, Dayaram A, Parry JN, Pande D, Martin DP, Varsani A. 2012. Molecular characterisation of dicot-infecting mastreviruses from Australia. Virus Res 166:13-22.
  163. Julian L, Lorenzo A, Chenuet JP, Bonzon M, Marchal C, Vignon L, Collings DA, Walters M, Jackson B, Varsani A. 2012. Evidence of multiple introductions of beak and feather disease virus into the Pacific islands of Nouvelle-Caledonie (New Caledonia). J Gen Virol 93:2466-72.
  164. Kraberger S, Thomas JE, Geering AD, Dayaram A, Stainton D, Hadfield J, Walters M, Parmenter KS, van Brunschot S, Collings DA, Martin DP, Varsani A. 2012. Australian monocot-infecting mastrevirus diversity rivals that in Africa. Virus Res 169:127-36.
  165. Massaro M, Ortiz-Catedral L, Julian L, Galbraith JA, Kurenbach B, Kearvell J, Kemp J, van Hal J, Elkington S, Taylor G, Greene T, van de Wetering J, van de Wetering M, Pryde M, Dilks P, Heber S, Steeves TE, Walters M, Shaw S, Potter J, Farrant M, Brunton DH, Hauber M, Jackson B, Bell P, Moorhouse R, McInnes K, Varsani A. 2012. Molecular characterisation of beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) in New Zealand and its implications for managing an infectious disease. Arch Virol 157:1651-63.
  166. Monjane AL, Pande D, Lakay F, Shepherd DN, van der Walt E, Lefeuvre P, Lett JM, Varsani A, Rybicki EP, Martin DP. 2012. Adaptive evolution by recombination is not associated with increased mutation rates in Maize streak virus. BMC Evol Biol 12:252.
  167. Pande D, Kraberger S, Lefeuvre P, Lett JM, Shepherd DN, Varsani A, Martin DP. 2012. A novel maize-infecting mastrevirus from La Reunion Island. Arch Virol 157:1617-21.
  168. Péréfarres F, De Bruyn A, Kraberger S, Hoareau M, Barjon F, Lefeuvre P, Pellegrin F, Caplong P, Varsani A, Lett J-M. 2012. Occurrence of the Israel strain of Tomato yellow leaf curl virus in New Caledonia and Loyalty Islands. New Disease Reports 25:6-6.
  169. Piasecki T, Kurenbach B, Chrzastek K, Bednarek K, Kraberger S, Martin DP, Varsani A. 2012. Molecular characterisation of an avihepadnavirus isolated from Psittacula krameri (ring-necked parrot). Arch Virol 157:585-90.
  170. Rosario K, Dayaram A, Marinov M, Ware J, Kraberger S, Stainton D, Breitbart M, Varsani A. 2012. Diverse circular ssDNA viruses discovered in dragonflies (Odonata: Epiprocta). J Gen Virol 93:2668-81.
  171. Stainton D, Kraberger S, Walters M, Wiltshire EJ, Rosario K, Halafihi M, Lolohea S, Katoa I, Faitua TH, Aholelei W, Taufa L, Thomas JE, Collings DA, Martin DP, Varsani A. 2012. Evidence of inter-component recombination, intra-component recombination and reassortment in banana bunchy top virus. J Gen Virol 93:1103-19.
  172. Antwerpen V, Mcfarlane S, Govender P, Potier B, Way M, Flett B, Ramusi M, Varsani A, Shepherd D, Stiller M. Report on Maize streak viruses in the South African sugar industry, p 240-250. In (ed),  South African Sugar Technologists' Association
  173. Goldsmith DB, Crosti G, Dwivedi B, McDaniel LD, Varsani A, Suttle CA, Weinbauer MG, Sandaa RA, Breitbart M. 2011. Development of phoH as a novel signature gene for assessing marine phage diversity. Appl Environ Microbiol 77:7730-9.
  174. Hadfield J, Linderme D, Shepherd DN, Bezuidenhout M, Lefeuvre P, Martin DP, Varsani A. 2011. Complete genome sequence of a dahlia common mosaic virus isolate from New Zealand. Arch Virol 156:2297-301.
  175. Hadfield J, Martin DP, Stainton D, Kraberger S, Owor BE, Shepherd DN, Lakay F, Markham PG, Greber RS, Briddon RW, Varsani A. 2011. Bromus catharticus striate mosaic virus: a new mastrevirus infecting Bromus catharticus from Australia. Arch Virol 156:335-41.
  176. Hosseini A, Massumi H, Heydarnejad J, Hosseini Pour A, Varsani A. 2011. Characterisation of potato virus Y isolates from Iran. Virus Genes 42:128-40.
  177. Martin DP, Biagini P, Lefeuvre P, Golden M, Roumagnac P, Varsani A. 2011. Recombination in eukaryotic single stranded DNA viruses. Viruses 3:1699-1738.
  178. Martin DP, Briddon RW, Varsani A. 2011. Recombination patterns in dicot-infecting mastreviruses mirror those found in monocot-infecting mastreviruses. Arch Virol 156:1463-9.
  179. Martin DP, Lefeuvre P, Varsani A, Hoareau M, Semegni JY, Dijoux B, Vincent C, Reynaud B, Lett JM. 2011. Complex recombination patterns arising during geminivirus coinfections preserve and demarcate biologically important intra-genome interaction networks. PLoS Pathog 7:e1002203.
  180. Martin DP, Linderme D, Lefeuvre P, Shepherd DN, Varsani A. 2011. Eragrostis minor streak virus: an Asian streak virus in Africa. Arch Virol 156:1299-303.
  181. Miller JL, Woodward J, Chen S, Jaffer M, Weber B, Nagasaki K, Tomaru Y, Wepf R, Roseman A, Varsani A, Sewell T. 2011. Three-dimensional reconstruction of Heterocapsa circularisquama RNA virus by electron cryo-microscopy. J Gen Virol 92:1960-70.
  182. Monjane AL, Harkins GW, Martin DP, Lemey P, Lefeuvre P, Shepherd DN, Oluwafemi S, Simuyandi M, Zinga I, Komba EK, Lakoutene DP, Mandakombo N, Mboukoulida J, Semballa S, Tagne A, Tiendrebeogo F, Erdmann JB, van Antwerpen T, Owor BE, Flett B, Ramusi M, Windram OP, Syed R, Lett JM, Briddon RW, Markham PG, Rybicki EP, Varsani A. 2011. Reconstructing the history of maize streak virus strain a dispersal to reveal diversification hot spots and its origin in southern Africa. J Virol 85:9623-36.
  183. Monjane AL, van der Walt E, Varsani A, Rybicki EP, Martin DP. 2011. Recombination hotspots and host susceptibility modulate the adaptive value of recombination during maize streak virus evolution. BMC Evol Biol 11:350.
  184. Rosario K, Marinov M, Stainton D, Kraberger S, Wiltshire EJ, Collings DA, Walters M, Martin DP, Breitbart M, Varsani A. 2011. Dragonfly cyclovirus, a novel single-stranded DNA virus discovered in dragonflies (Odonata: Anisoptera). J Gen Virol 92:1302-8.
  185. Salari K, Massumi H, Heydarnejad J, Hosseini Pour A, Varsani A. 2011. Analysis of Iranian Potato virus S isolates. Virus Genes 43:281-8.
  186. Varsani A, Regnard GL, Bragg R, Hitzeroth, II, Rybicki EP. 2011. Global genetic diversity and geographical and host-species distribution of beak and feather disease virus isolates. J Gen Virol 92:752-67.
  187. Briddon RW, Heydarnejad J, Khosrowfar F, Massumi H, Martin DP, Varsani A. 2010. Turnip curly top virus, a highly divergent geminivirus infecting turnip in Iran. Virus Res 152:169-75.
  188. Briddon RW, Martin DP, Owor BE, Donaldson L, Markham PG, Greber RS, Varsani A. 2010. A novel species of mastrevirus (family Geminiviridae) isolated from Digitaria didactyla grass from Australia. Arch Virol 155:1529-34.
  189. Erdmann JB, Shepherd DN, Martin DP, Varsani A, Rybicki EP, Jeske H. 2010. Replicative intermediates of maize streak virus found during leaf development. J Gen Virol 91:1077-81.
  190. Lefeuvre P, Martin DP, Harkins G, Lemey P, Gray AJ, Meredith S, Lakay F, Monjane A, Lett JM, Varsani A, Heydarnejad J. 2010. The spread of tomato yellow leaf curl virus from the Middle East to the world. PLoS Pathog 6:e1001164.
  191. Ortiz-Catedral L, Kurenbach B, Massaro M, McInnes K, Brunton DH, Hauber ME, Martin DP, Varsani A. 2010. A new isolate of beak and feather disease virus from endemic wild red-fronted parakeets (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae) in New Zealand. Arch Virol 155:613-20.
  192. Shepherd DN, Martin DP, Van Der Walt E, Dent K, Varsani A, Rybicki EP. 2010. Maize streak virus: an old and complex 'emerging' pathogen. Mol Plant Pathol 11:1-12.
  193. Tazehkand SA, Pour AH, Heydarnejad J, Varsani A, Massumi H. 2010. Identification of phytoplasmas associated with cultivated and ornamental plants in Kerman province, Iran. Journal of Phytopathology 158:713-720.
  194. Varsani A, de Villiers GK, Regnard GL, Bragg RR, Kondiah K, Hitzeroth, II, Rybicki EP. 2010. A unique isolate of beak and feather disease virus isolated from budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) in South Africa. Arch Virol 155:435-9.
  195. Williamson DS, Dent KC, Weber BW, Varsani A, Frederick J, Thuku RN, Cameron RA, van Heerden JH, Cowan DA, Sewell BT. 2010. Structural and biochemical characterization of a nitrilase from the thermophilic bacterium, Geobacillus pallidus RAPc8. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 88:143-53.
  196. Fazeli R, Heydarnejad J, Massumi H, Shaabanian M, Varsani A. 2009. Genetic diversity and distribution of tomato-infecting begomoviruses in Iran. Virus Genes 38:311-9.
  197. Harkins GW, Delport W, Duffy S, Wood N, Monjane AL, Owor BE, Donaldson L, Saumtally S, Triton G, Briddon RW, Shepherd DN, Rybicki EP, Martin DP, Varsani A. 2009. Experimental evidence indicating that mastreviruses probably did not co-diverge with their hosts. Virol J 6:104.
  198. Harkins GW, Martin DP, Duffy S, Monjane AL, Shepherd DN, Windram OP, Owor BE, Donaldson L, van Antwerpen T, Sayed RA, Flett B, Ramusi M, Rybicki EP, Peterschmitt M, Varsani A. 2009. Dating the origins of the maize-adapted strain of maize streak virus, MSV-A. J Gen Virol 90:3066-74.
  199. Heydarnejad J, Mozaffari A, Massumi H, Fazeli R, Gray AJ, Meredith S, Lakay F, Shepherd DN, Martin DP, Varsani A. 2009. Complete sequences of tomato leaf curl Palampur virus isolates infecting cucurbits in Iran. Arch Virol 154:1015-8.
  200. Lawry R, Martin DP, Shepherd DN, van Antwerpen T, Varsani A. 2009. A novel sugarcane-infecting mastrevirus from South Africa. Arch Virol 154:1699-703.
  201. Lefeuvre P, Lett JM, Varsani A, Martin DP. 2009. Widely conserved recombination patterns among single-stranded DNA viruses. J Virol 83:2697-707.
  202. Lett JM, Lefeuvre P, Couston L, Hoareau M, Thierry M, Reynaud B, Martin DP, Varsani A. 2009. Complete genomic sequences of Tomato yellow leaf curl Mali virus isolates infecting tomato and pepper from the North Province of Cameroon. Arch Virol 154:535-40.
  203. Mackinder LC, Worthy CA, Biggi G, Hall M, Ryan KP, Varsani A, Harper GM, Wilson WH, Brownlee C, Schroeder DC. 2009. A unicellular algal virus, Emiliania huxleyi virus 86, exploits an animal-like infection strategy. J Gen Virol 90:2306-16.
  204. van der Walt E, Rybicki EP, Varsani A, Polston JE, Billharz R, Donaldson L, Monjane AL, Martin DP. 2009. Rapid host adaptation by extensive recombination. J Gen Virol 90:734-46.
  205. Varsani A, Monjane AL, Donaldson L, Oluwafemi S, Zinga I, Komba EK, Plakoutene D, Mandakombo N, Mboukoulida J, Semballa S, Briddon RW, Markham PG, Lett JM, Lefeuvre P, Rybicki EP, Martin DP. 2009. Comparative analysis of Panicum streak virus and Maize streak virus diversity, recombination patterns and phylogeography. Virol J 6:194.
  206. Varsani A, Shepherd DN, Dent K, Monjane AL, Rybicki EP, Martin DP. 2009. A highly divergent South African geminivirus species illuminates the ancient evolutionary history of this family. Virol J 6:36.
  207. Castillo-Urquiza GP, Beserra JE, Jr., Bruckner FP, Lima AT, Varsani A, Alfenas-Zerbini P, Murilo Zerbini F. 2008. Six novel begomoviruses infecting tomato and associated weeds in Southeastern Brazil. Arch Virol 153:1985-9.
  208. Oluwafemi S, Varsani A, Monjane AL, Shepherd DN, Owor BE, Rybicki EP, Martin DP. 2008. A new African streak virus species from Nigeria. Arch Virol 153:1407-10.
  209. Shepherd DN, Martin DP, Lefeuvre P, Monjane AL, Owor BE, Rybicki EP, Varsani A. 2008. A protocol for the rapid isolation of full geminivirus genomes from dried plant tissue. J Virol Methods 149:97-102.
  210. Shepherd DN, Varsani A, Windram OP, Lefeuvre P, Monjane AL, Owor BE, Martin DP. 2008. Novel sugarcane streak and Sugarcane streak Reunion mastreviruses from southern Africa and La Reunion. Arch Virol 153:605-9.
  211. Van Antwerpen T, McFarlane S, Buchanan G, Shepherd D, Martin D, Rybicki E, Varsani A. 2008. First report of Maize streak virus field infection of sugarcane in South Africa. Plant Disease 92:982-982.
  212. van der Walt E, Martin DP, Varsani A, Polston JE, Rybicki EP. 2008. Experimental observations of rapid Maize streak virus evolution reveal a strand-specific nucleotide substitution bias. Virol J 5:104.
  213. Varsani A, Oluwafemi S, Windram OP, Shepherd DN, Monjane AL, Owor BE, Rybicki EP, Lefeuvre P, Martin DP. 2008. Panicum streak virus diversity is similar to that observed for maize streak virus. Arch Virol 153:601-4.
  214. Varsani A, Shepherd DN, Monjane AL, Owor BE, Erdmann JB, Rybicki EP, Peterschmitt M, Briddon RW, Markham PG, Oluwafemi S, Windram OP, Lefeuvre P, Lett JM, Martin DP. 2008. Recombination, decreased host specificity and increased mobility may have driven the emergence of maize streak virus as an agricultural pathogen. J Gen Virol 89:2063-74.
  215. Windram OP, Weber B, Jaffer MA, Rybicki EP, Shepherd DN, Varsani A. 2008. An investigation into the use of human papillomavirus type 16 virus-like particles as a delivery vector system for foreign proteins: N- and C-terminal fusion of GFP to the L1 and L2 capsid proteins. Arch Virol 153:585-9.
  216. Bredell H, Martin DP, Van Harmelen J, Varsani A, Sheppard HW, Donovan R, Gray CM, Team HS, Williamson C. 2007. HIV type 1 subtype C gag and nef diversity in Southern Africa. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 23:477-81.
  217. Lefeuvre P, Martin DP, Hoareau M, Naze F, Delatte H, Thierry M, Varsani A, Becker N, Reynaud B, Lett JM. 2007. Begomovirus 'melting pot' in the south-west Indian Ocean islands: molecular diversity and evolution through recombination. J Gen Virol 88:3458-68.
  218. Owor BE, Martin DP, Shepherd DN, Edema R, Monjane AL, Rybicki EP, Thomson JA, Varsani A. 2007. Genetic analysis of maize streak virus isolates from Uganda reveals widespread distribution of a recombinant variant. J Gen Virol 88:3154-65.
  219. Owor BE, Shepherd DN, Taylor NJ, Edema R, Monjane AL, Thomson JA, Martin DP, Varsani A. 2007. Successful application of FTA Classic Card technology and use of bacteriophage phi29 DNA polymerase for large-scale field sampling and cloning of complete maize streak virus genomes. J Virol Methods 140:100-5.
  220. Thuku RN, Weber BW, Varsani A, Sewell BT. 2007. Post-translational cleavage of recombinantly expressed nitrilase from Rhodococcus rhodochrous J1 yields a stable, active helical form. FEBS J 274:2099-108.
  221. Heath L, van der Walt E, Varsani A, Martin DP. 2006. Recombination patterns in aphthoviruses mirror those found in other picornaviruses. J Virol 80:11827-32.
  222. Kohl T, Hitzeroth, II, Stewart D, Varsani A, Govan VA, Christensen ND, Williamson AL, Rybicki EP. 2006. Plant-produced cottontail rabbit papillomavirus L1 protein protects against tumor challenge: a proof-of-concept study. Clin Vaccine Immunol 13:845-53.
  223. Shepherd DN, Martin DP, Varsani A, Thomson JA, Rybicki EP, Klump HH. 2006. Restoration of native folding of single-stranded DNA sequences through reverse mutations: an indication of a new epigenetic mechanism. Arch Biochem Biophys 453:108-22.
  224. Varsani A, van der Walt E, Heath L, Rybicki EP, Williamson AL, Martin DP. 2006. Evidence of ancient papillomavirus recombination. J Gen Virol 87:2527-31.
  225. Varsani A, Williamson AL, Jaffer MA, Rybicki EP. 2006. A deletion and point mutation study of the human papillomavirus type 16 major capsid gene. Virus Res 122:154-63.
  226. Varsani A, Williamson AL, Stewart D, Rybicki EP. 2006. Transient expression of Human papillomavirus type 16 L1 protein in Nicotiana benthamiana using an infectious tobamovirus vector. Virus Res 120:91-6.
  227. Varsani A, Williamson AL, de Villiers D, Becker I, Christensen ND, Rybicki EP. 2003. Chimeric human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) L1 particles presenting the common neutralizing epitope for the L2 minor capsid protein of HPV-6 and HPV-16. J Virol 77:8386-93.
  228. Varsani A, Williamson AL, Rose RC, Jaffer M, Rybicki EP. 2003. Expression of Human papillomavirus type 16 major capsid protein in transgenic Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi. Arch Virol 148:1771-86.
Summer 2019
Course NumberCourse Title
MIC 495Undergraduate Research
BIO 495Undergraduate Research
Spring 2019
Course NumberCourse Title
BIO 340General Genetics
MIC 492Honors Directed Study
MIC 495Undergraduate Research
BIO 495Undergraduate Research
BDE 792Research
BDE 799Dissertation
Fall 2018
Course NumberCourse Title
BIO 495Undergraduate Research
MIC 495Undergraduate Research
BIO 598Special Topics
Spring 2018
Course NumberCourse Title
BIO 340General Genetics
MIC 495Undergraduate Research
BIO 495Undergraduate Research
Fall 2017
Course NumberCourse Title
BIO 189Life Sciences Career Paths
MIC 495Undergraduate Research
Spring 2017
Course NumberCourse Title
MIC 205Microbiology
Service
  • Executive committee member of the “International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses” (2014 – current)
  • Committee member of the “International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses” geminivirus working group (2010 – current)
  • Committee member of the “International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses” circovirus working group (2011 – current)
  • Advisory board for the journal Archives of Virology (2009 – current)
  • Advisory board of the journal Virology (2015 – current)
Expertise Areas
Viruses
Diseases
Microbes
Molecular Biology
Plants
Veterinary