Gael Kurath

Email: Gael Kurath

Ph.D. 1985. Microbiology, Oregon State University. Virology, fish viruses, molecular biology, RNA virus evolution, molecular epidemiology, viral fitness, DNA vaccines.

The Kurath research program deals with the molecular biology, genetic diversity, evolution, and control of RNA viruses, using the significant salmon pathogen infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus IHNV) as a field and experimental system. We investigate the genomic structure and expression of fish viruses, how they replicate and cause disease in their hosts, and novel control strategies such as DNA vaccines. Phylogenetic studies are aimed at understanding the diversity of genetic types of IHNV strains throughout the Pacific northwest, and using this information to investigate the sources of disease outbreaks in wild and hatchery populations of Pacific salmonids. Viral fitness is assessed using in vivo growth competition experiments in whole fish as a model for vertebrate virus ecology.

Representative Publications:

Kurath, G., Garver, K.A., Troyer, R.M., Emmenegger, E. J., Einer-Jensen, K., and Anderson, E.D. 2003. Phylogeography of infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus in North America. J. Gen. Virol. 84:803-814.

Garver, K.A., LaPatra, S.E., and Kurath, G. 2005. Efficacy of an IHN virus DNA vaccine in chinook (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and sockeye (Oncorhyhchus nerka) salmon. Dis. Aquat. Org 64:13-22.

Kurath, G., Garver, K.A., Corbeil, S., Elliott, D.G., Anderson, E.D., and LaPatra, S.E. 2006. Protective immunity and lack of histopathological damage two years after DNA vaccination against infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus in trout. Vaccine 24:345-354.

Mailing Address:

U.S. Geological Survey
Western Fisheries Research Center
6505 NE 65th St.
Seattle, WA 98115

Phone: 206-526-6583
Fax: 206-526-6654