Viral Metagenomics and Discovery.
Project Overview
The world has experienced 16 major viral disease outbreaks in the last two decades, including Dengue, SARS-CoV, H1N1, Ebola, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. Although we have the technology and social protocols to respond to viral epidemics, it is challenging to predict and prepare for future outbreaks. Pandemic preparedness is further impaired by our limited understanding of viral diversity in humans and other mammals. In this project, researchers aim to develop tools including metagenomic sequencing and analysis to uncover the human viral diversity, with the dream to create a global map of human virus.
The Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health is part of the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health