R. J. Gifford

A novel tamanavirus (Flaviviridae) of the European common frog (Rana temporaria) encodes a divergent class 1b XRN1-resistant RNA element.

This paper identifies a novel tamanavirus in European common frogs, RaTV, which encodes a divergent XRN1-resistant RNA element similar to flaviviruses.

Evidence of a novel viral membranefusion mechanism shared by theHepaci, Pegi and Pestiviruses

The paper predicts the structures of E1E2 glycoproteins from Hepaci, Pegi, and Pestivirus genera using AlphaFold, revealing a novel membrane fusion mechanism shared across these viruses.

An endogenous lentivirus in the germline of a rodent.

The paper identifies a new endogenous lentivirus lineage in the South African springhare, expanding the known host range of lentiviruses to rodents.

Comparative analysis reveals the long-term co-evolutionary history of parvoviruses and vertebrates.

This study maps the long-term co-evolutionary history of parvoviruses and vertebrates by analyzing EPV diversity across 752 genomes, revealing genus-specific adaptations and ecological niches.

Comparative analysis of genome-encoded viral sequences reveals the evolutionary history of flavivirids (family Flaviviridae).

The paper uses genome-encoded viral sequences to reconstruct the evolutionary history of flavivirids, revealing their origin and divergence patterns across animal phyla.

Ancient evolution of hepadnaviral paleoviruses and their impact on host genomes.

This study identifies and analyzes endogenous hepatitis B viruses (eHBVs) in vertebrate genomes, revealing their evolutionary history and impact on saurian genomes.

Rapid evolution of antiviral APOBEC3 genes driven by the conflicts with ancient retroviruses

This study investigates the evolutionary conflict between APOBEC3 genes and ancient retroviruses, finding that APOBEC3 gene amplification and positive selection correlate with retroviral G-to-A mutation signatures.

An ancient lineage of highly divergent parvoviruses infects both vertebrate and invertebrate hosts.

This study investigates chapparvoviruses, revealing they are an ancient lineage infecting both vertebrates and invertebrates with distinct genomic and structural features.

Molecular properties and evolutionary origins of a parvovirus-derived myosin fusion gene in guinea pigs

The paper investigates a parvovirus-derived myosin fusion gene in guinea pigs, showing it is evolutionarily conserved, broadly transcribed, and capable of expressing protein.

Endogenous amdoparvovirus-related elements reveal insights into the biology and evolution of vertebrate parvoviruses.

The paper identifies and analyzes endogenous parvovirus-like elements in vertebrate genomes, revealing evolutionary relationships and genomic features of parvoviruses.

Insights into circovirus host range from the genomic fossil record.

This study identifies circovirus-related sequences in animal genomes, revealing cyclovirus infection in insects and questioning their role as vertebrate pathogens.

The evolution, distribution and diversity of endogenous circoviral elements

This study identifies and characterizes endogenous circoviral elements across vertebrate genomes, revealing their evolutionary history and host relationships.