David`s new publication. Congratulations!

Authors
David H Chung, Dejelia R Gomez, Julia M Vargas, Belkis L Amador, Mia K Torchetti, Mary L Killian, David E Swayne, Dong-Hun Lee
Publication date
2020/12
Journal
Emerging infectious diseases
Description
Low pathogenicity avian influenza (H5N2) virus was detected in poultry in the Dominican Republic in 2007 and re-emerged in 2017. Whole-genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis show introduction of an H5N2 virus lineage from Mexico into poultry in the Dominican Republic, then divergence into 3 distinct genetic subgroups during 2007–2019.

David`s new paper. Congratulations!

Authors
Mohsen Bashashati, David H Chung, Mohammad Hossein Fallah Mehrabadi, Dong‐Hun Lee
Publication date
2020/12/1
Journal
Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
Description
Since its first detection in 1998, avian influenza virus (AIV) subtype H9N2 has been enzootic in Iran. To better understand the evolutionary history of H9N2 viruses in Iran, we sequenced 15 currently circulating H9N2 viruses from domestic poultry during 2017–2019 and performed phylogenetic analysis of complete genome sequences. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that the Iranian H9N2 viruses formed multiple well‐supported monophyletic groups within the G1‐lineage of H9N2 virus. Our analysis of viral population dynamics revealed an increase in genetic diversity until 2007, corresponding to the multiple introductions and diversification of H9N2 viruses into multiple genetic groups (named Iran 1–4 subgroups), followed by a sudden decrease after 2008. Only the Iran 4 subgroup has survived, expanded, and currently circulates in Iran. The H9N2 viruses possessed many molecular markers associated with …

Sol Jeong`s new paper. Congratulations!

Authors
Sol Jeong, Dong-Hun Lee, Yu-Jin Kim, Sun-Hak Lee, Andrew Y Cho, Jin-Yong Noh, Erdene-Ochir Tseren-Ochir, Jei-Hyun Jeong, Chang-Seon Song
Publication date
2019/11
Journal
Emerging infectious diseases
Description
An avian influenza A (H6N5) virus with all 8 segments of North American origin was isolated from wild bird feces in South Korea. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that this virus may have been introduced into Asia by wild birds, highlighting the role of wild birds in the dispersal of these viruses.

Welcome Scott!

Welcome Junwon (Scott) Kim!

Scott has joined our lab as a Master`s student. His primary research interests are in Bioinformatics and optimizing computational environment in microbiology laboratories.

Sol Jeong`s new paper. Congratulations!

Authors
Sol Jeong, Dong-Hun Lee, Jung-Hoon Kwon, Yu-Jin Kim, Sun-Hak Lee, Andrew Y Cho, Tae-Hyeon Kim, Jung-Eun Park, Song-I Lee, Chang-Seon Song
Publication date
2020/12
Journal
Viruses
Description
In October 2020, a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) subtype H5N8 virus was identified from a fecal sample of a wild mandarin duck (Aix galericulata) in South Korea. We sequenced all eight genome segments of the virus, designated as A/Mandarin duck/Korea/K20-551-4/2020 (H5N8), and conducted genetic characterization and comparative phylogenetic analysis to track its origin. Genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis show that the hemagglutinin gene belongs to H5 clade 2.3. 4.4 subgroup B. All genes share high levels of nucleotide identity with H5N8 HPAI viruses identified from Europe during early 2020. Enhanced active surveillance in wild and domestic birds is needed to monitor the introduction and spread of HPAI via wild birds and to inform the design of improved prevention and control strategies.

Welcome, Julia!

Pathobiology student Julia Desiato has joined our lab for summer work.
It is my great pleasure to welcome Julia and wish her all the best for
a successful training and research outcome in our lab.

Welcome, Julia!

Welcome, Sol!

Visiting scholar Sol Jeong started in the lab in May 2019. Sol is working on a molecular analysis of natural reassortant avian influenza viruses identified from wild birds.

Welcome, Sol!