Avian and Swine Influenza virus surveillance in South America. Influenza A virus

In this project we want to investigate the seasonal variation of avian influenza viruses in Anseriformes (ducks) between the migration and non-migration seasons in South America. We will also investigate the prevalence of avian influenza viruses in Charadriiformes (gulls) and Sphenisciformes (penguins) in South America and Antarctica. We want to understand the ecological factors and niches contributing to the maintenance of Influenza virus in avian populations in the South and Central American regions. This Project also aims to understand the ecology and evolution of swine influenza viruses in Central and South America. The viral diversity of Influenza viruses in swine productions systems will be investigated, and we will study the role of vaccination in the generation of novel genotypes and antigenic variation in South America as well.