Viral Ecology Laboratory

The viral ecology laboratory focuses on the role of viruses in aquatic environments through the characterization of their relationships with their hosts. Through the use of laboratory cultures, molecular biology techniques, and bioinformatics we aim to: describe and interpret spatial and temporal diversity of viruses and microbes, characterize phage–host interactions in environmental systems to define the role of viral lysis in the microbial loop, and understand the mechanisms of evolution of viruses and bacteria in the environment.