| Email: gael_kurath@usgs.gov |
Dr. Kurath’s research program involves the molecular biology, genetic
diversity, evolution, and control of RNA viruses. The experimental system
is viral pathogens of fish, focusing on infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus
(IHNV), a rhabdovirus that causes economically significant disease in salmon
and trout. Field studies use genetic typing and phlyogenetics to understand
the molecular epidemiology and evolution of IHNV in both wild and cultured
host populations throughout western North America. Controlled laboratory
virus challenges are used to investigate the basis of viral virulence and host
specificity, and also viral fitness using in vivo viral competition assays. Finally,
DNA vaccines against IHNV have been developed and shown to have exceptionally
high efficacy under a wide range of conditions. In addition to being practical
vaccine candidates for veterinary use, we use the vaccines as a tools to investigate
the stimulation of strong protective immunity involving both innate and adaptive
mechanisms.