M. Baylis

UK mosquitoes are competent to transmit Usutu virus at native temperatures

This study assesses the vector competence of UK mosquitoes for the local Usutu virus strain at regional temperatures, finding several species capable of transmitting the virus.

Ecology and environment predict spatially stratified risk of H5 highly pathogenic avian influenza clade 2.3.4.4b in wild birds across Europe

The paper uses machine learning to model the spread of H5N1 avian influenza in Europe, finding that ecological factors refine risk predictions beyond climate alone.

Meta-analyses of Culex blood-meals indicates strong regional effect on feeding patterns

This study analyzes global Culex blood-feeding data to show that feeding patterns vary between species and regions, influenced by external factors rather than phylogeny.

Features that matter: evolutionary signatures that predict viral transmission routes

This paper identifies viral features and evolutionary signatures predictive of transmission routes and demonstrates high accuracy in predicting these routes for both known and newly emerged viruses.

Monkeypox virus shows potential to infect a diverse range of native animal species across Europe, indicating high risk of becoming endemic in the region

The paper identifies potentially susceptible animal species to monkeypox virus in Europe and highlights high-risk hosts and geographic areas for spillback and endemicity.

Identifying candidate Culicoides spp. (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) for the study of interactions with Candidatus Cardinium hertigii (Bacteroidetes).

The paper screens 337 Culicoides individuals for Cardinium infection and identifies candidate species for studying symbiont interactions.

Cardinium symbiosis as a potential confounder of mtDNA based phylogeographic inference in Culicoides imicola (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), a vector of veterinary viruses

This study shows that Cardinium symbiosis can affect mtDNA-based phylogeographic analysis in Culicoides imicola, suggesting the need for additional markers to accurately infer population movement.

The Tissue Tropisms and Transstadial Transmission of a Rickettsia Endosymbiont in the Highland Midge, Culicoides impunctatus (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

This study identifies tissue tropisms and transstadial transmission of Torix Rickettsia in Culicoides impunctatus, suggesting novel germline targeting and potential impacts on vector capacity.

Divide and conquer: machine-learning integrates mammalian, viral, and network traits to predict unknown virus-mammal associations

The paper predicts over 20,000 unknown virus-mammal associations using a machine-learning approach that integrates viral, mammalian, and network traits.

Distinct spread of DNA and RNA viruses among mammals amid prominent role of domestic species

The paper analyzes mammal-virus networks to identify key species for virus spread, finding domestic mammals and primates central for DNA viruses, while carnivores and bats are central for RNA viruses.