Understanding evolutionary dynamics of West Nile Virus (WNV) circulating within human populations. West Nile virus

West Nile Virus (WNV) is a rapidly growing mosquito borne zoonotic arbovirus causing annual seasonal epidemics. Although molecular epidemiological studies have identified modest geographic and temporal patterns of consensus-level evolution, fine-scale evolutionary studies, as well as assessment of temporal and geographic variation in diversity have not been conducted for WNV. As part of this project we will generate genomic sequence data from both geographically focused and dispersed isolates (many with known disease outcomes) over time to assess temporal and spatial variation, as well as identify selective pressures, virulence factors, and genetic correlates of disease transmission.