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Auguste Lab Members
Principal Investigator
A. Jonathan Auguste, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Arbovirology; Department of Entomology
Director of BSL3/ACL3; Fralin Life Science Institute
Research Interests: My research focuses on the ecological and evolutionary factors that influence the emergence of RNA viruses, as well as the development and evaluation of novel intervention strategies for emerging viruses. My work on characterizing novel viruses has led to significant advancements in understanding viral diversity, host range, and structural characteristics of several families. I have also worked on developing novel interventions for RNA viruses including flavivirus vaccine candidates, antivirals, and associated animal models to better inform intervention testing.
Contact: jauguste@vt.edu
Lab Manager
Dawn I. Auguste, M.S.
Research Interests: I have a Master's in Cancer Biology from the University of Miami. However, most recently I spend most of my time conducting immunological studies associated with our novel Aripo-Zika vaccine.
Fun Facts: I really like anything desserts, books, and traveling.
Contact:
Email: dauguste@vt.edu
Campbell Winn, BSc.
Campbell Winn, BSc.
Research Interests: As a Technician, I assist with multiple projects in the lab, including but not limited to growth curves, pathogenesis studies, and vaccine efficacy studies. I primarily do in vitro work.
Fun fact: I love beer and fishing
Contact:
Graduate Students (Current)
Manette Tanelus, Ph.D. Candidate
Dissertation Title: An Examination of the Safety and Efficacy of a Chimeric Flavivirus Vaccine
Research Interests: My dissertation focuses on the safety and efficacy of a chimeric vaccine for the Zika virus. Specifically, I will be studying the best dosage regimen, relevant boosters, maternal antibody transfer, co-infection, and many more in murine models.
Fun Facts: My love language is food. I love to cook and I travel exclusively for the experience of trying new foods. The only pets I can keep alive (sometimes) are plants.
Contact:
Email: manette@vt.edu
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/manette-tanelus
Twitter: @netteinscience
William B. Stone, Ph.D. Candidate
Dissertation Title: Investigating the role of the mosquito on flavivirus structural biology
Research Interests: My research interests include vector-borne disease, emerging infectious diseases, host-pathogen interactions, pathogen structural biology, vector biology, pathogen environmental persistence, epidemiology, biosecurity, and biodefense.
Fun Facts: My brother and I are both Virginia Tech alumni. I am currently part of the National Institutes of Health Graduate Partnership Program (The second one ever at Virginia Tech!). My hobbies include writing, playing tabletop RPGs, board games, leatherworking, and doing MMA in medieval armor!
Contact:
Emails: wstone97@vt.edu; will.stone@nih.gov
Elise Hennessy, D.V.M., Ph.D. Student
Dissertation Title: TBD
Research Interests: I am a veterinarian with residency training in anatomic pathology. I am primarily interested in viral diseases of veterinary importance as well as those with zoonotic potential. More specifically, I hope to explore disease pathogenesis, host-pathogen interactions, and prophylactic/therapeutic interventions.
Fun Facts: When I'm not in the lab I enjoy cooking, running, bird watching, reading classic novels, and spending time with my pets. Additionally, akin to the protagonist in Stephen King's "The Dark Half," I was originally meant to be a twin but absorbed the other embryo early in gestation.
Contact:
Emails: elisekhennessy@vt.edu
Suliman Dawood, Ph.D. Student
Dissertation Title: TBD
Research Interests:TBA
Fun Facts: TBA
Contact:
Postdocs (Current)
John A. Muller, M.S., Ph.D.
Current Projects: Avian disease surveillance across Virginia, migration routes and winter site fidelity of grassland birds, development of avian animal models to test avian disease transmission and pathogenesis.
Research Interests: My main interests are in disease ecology and the conservation of wildlife. This includes landscape level movements, habitat associations, disease pressure and transmission cycles, and management activities that affect population dynamics.
Fun Facts: In a previous academic life I was a herpetologist, and due to this I keep a small zoo of reptiles in the house
Contact:
email: jmuller51@vt.edu
twitter: @anthusspragueii
Instagram: @jmuller51
Current Projects: Disease surveillance, Viral discovery, Animal model development for Orthobunyavirus vaccine development.
Research Interests: Exploring the ecological and biological factors driving host-vector interactions in wild birds and arthropod populations, in Virginia. I also seek to develop new murine and avian pathogenesis models to better inform efficacy of my novel vaccine platforms which target important arthropod-borne viruses (ar-bo-viruses), which cause severe illness in both wildlife and humans.
Fun Facts: I love cooking, traveling, hiking, photography, and most of all spending time with my son Quin and my pup (Pinto Bean).
Contact:
Email: klopez5@vt.edu
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/krisangel-lopez
Twitter (X): @virusnrd
Instagram: @virusnrd
Krisangel López, Ph.D.
Pallavi Rai, D.V.M., Ph.D.
Current Projects: TBA
Research Interests: TBA
Fun Facts: TBA
Contact: TBA
Undergraduate Students (Current) & Lab Technicians
Maranda Stricklin
Major: Microbiology, Honors
Research Interests: My research interests include viral pathogenesis, emerging infectious disease, biodefence, viral evolution and ecology, and animal models. I’m interested in the One Health perspective applied to virology and considering human, animal, and environmental factors in the control of viral disease.
Fun fact: I love palaeontology! I have been involved extensively with the field for years, my favourite dinosaur is Utahraptor ostrommaysi. I also love sharks and other fishes (I will never turn down a conversation about fish).
Contact:
marandas@vt.edu
instagram: @mar.anda.s
twitter: @mars_burgvirus
Former Graduate Students
Marissa Shrestha, M.L.F.S. in Life Sciences- Entomology
Marissa Shrestha, M.L.F.S. in Life Sciences- Entomology
Krisangel López, Ph.D in Entomology
Danielle L. Porier, Ph.D. in Entomology
Manette Tanelus, M.L.F.S. in Life Sciences- Entomology
James Carver, M.L.F.S. in Life Sciences- Entomology
Former Undergraduate Students
Sarah N. Wilson, Research project: La Crosse virus pathogenesis in murine models.
Brandi Benedict, Research project: Effects of Chikungunya immunity on Mayaro virus disease and epidemic potential in the New World.
Danielle L. Porier, Research project: Predicting the emergence potential of an alphavirus in the Americas through experimental evolution.
Shahzabe Mann, Research project: Exploring the mechanisms underlying the efficacy of a novel Zika virus vaccine.
Joe Palazzi, Research project: Exploring the mechanisms underlying the efficacy of a novel Zika virus vaccine.
Jing Waid, Research project: Exploring the mechanisms underlying the efficacy of a novel Zika virus vaccine.
Lauren Fryzlewicz, Research project: Exploring Aripo virus induced superinfection exclusion of mosquito-borne viruses.
Melanie Revollo, Research project: Arthropod surveillance in the state of Virginia.
Shaan Smith, Research project: Exploring the mechanisms underlying the efficacy of a novel Zika virus vaccine.
Nyah Huntley, Research project: Exploring the mechanisms underlying the efficacy of a novel Zika virus vaccine.
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