UGI Seminar: 'The antigenic and genetic diversity of dengue virus'

Venue:  Gertrude Falk Room, Medical Sciences Building

Title: The antigenic and genetic diversity of dengue virus

Abstract:  Dengue is an arbovirus found throughout global tropical and subtropical regions. It usually circulates endemically, with non-stop co-circulation of multiple lineages. The impact of continued exposure on human hosts remains unclear, as does any resulting pressures for the viruses to evolve antigenically from high population immunity. By using long term antigenic and genetic data from a single setting (Bangkok, Thailand) from a 50-year period, we have been able to identify how both the virus and population immunity are evolving in a highly endemic setting. This has implications for vaccine success that are now started to be finally implemented and looking to shift the immune profile of populations.

Bio: Henrik Salje is a Professor in the Department of Genetics where he co-leads the Pathogen Dynamics Unit. His group works on the emergence, spread and control of infectious diseases. He uses mathematical, computational and field research to help our understanding of how pathogens spread in populations, to assess control efforts and support policy making. This includes working with a diverse range of datasets including epidemiological, genomic, serological and behavioural data. He has a particular interest in the dynamics of arboviruses such as dengue, Zika and chikungunya viruses.