DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Phylogenetic Relationships, Biogeography, and Genetic Diversity of the VHS Fish Virus

病毒性出血性败血症病毒是引起世界上最重要的鱼类疾病之一？S。自2005年以来，一种独特的新兴菌株(IVb)在五大湖爆发，导致许多重要物种死亡，并损害了我们的渔业、诱饵鱼、水产养殖业和旅游业。这项研究将分析这种新物种的进化、生物地理和遗传多样性模式。VHS毒株遍布其分布，与其他毒株相比，为认识和防治该病提供了重要的益处。将在S病毒的地理范围、时间进程和受感染的鱼类之间测试dna序列变异和生物地理模式。病毒株内和株间的遗传多样性将使用三种不同的基因进行分析，从而跟踪病毒在时间和空间上的变异模式。这项调查将极大地提高女性博士生的研究深度和机会。其他更广泛的影响是，该项目将促进研究生同学、高中生、大学和州立大学的研究人员、水产养殖渔民和渔业管理人员对病原体进化模式的教学、培训、合作和了解。结果将加强渔业养护和疾病预防工作。

Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia virus (VHSv) causes one of the world?s most important finfish diseases. An outbreak of a unique and emerging strain (IVb) has been observed across the Great Lakes since 2005, killing many important species and harming our fisheries, baitfish, aquaculture, and tourism industries. This study will analyze the evolutionary, biogeographic, and genetic diversity patterns of this ?new? VHS strain throughout its distribution, in comparison to other strains, providing important benefits for understanding and combating this disease. DNA sequence variation and biogeographic patterns will be tested across the virus?s geographic range, temporal course, and among infected fish species. Genetic diversity within and among the strains will be analyzed using three different genes, permitting the tracking of the patterns of viral variation over time and space.This investigation will significantly enhance the research depth and opportunity of a female Ph.D. student. Additional broader impacts are that the project will promote teaching, training, collaboration, and understanding of evolutionary patterns in pathogens to fellow graduate students, high school students, university and state researchers, aquaculture fish farmers, and fisheries managers. Results will enhance fisheries conservation and disease prevention efforts.