Microbial Evolution

Our goal is to understand how evolution works at the molecular level and how organisms adapt to changing conditions through random mutations and recombination. Pathogens provide excellent model systems for studying these processes. We apply modern sequencing techniques to decipher the genome of thousands of HIV particles and develop new algorithms to elucidate the interactions between HIV and the immune system. We have developed a method that can predict the evolution of influenza viruses based on their phylogenetic tree (nextflu.org). Such predictions can help to ensure that the seasonal influenza vaccine matches the viruses in circulation.

The group develops the SIB Resource Nextstrain, a software tool to track pathogen evolution in real-time