Author

Michelle N. Vu

Emory UniversityORCID 0000-0002-3208-710XUnclaimed ORCID profile · follow to get notified of new preprints

Biology Disciplines

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Signature Assays, Organisms & Methods

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Approach:experimental assay· 5 Research Focus:host-pathogen & immune response· 5 Organism:mouse· 3 Organism:chicken / avian· 2 Organism:human· 2 Assay:proteomics· 2 Assay:metagenomics· 1

Frequent Co-Authors

Seema S. LakdawalaiD· 4 shared Gracie QuirkiD· 3 shared Kaitlyn BushfieldiD· 3 shared Valerie Le SageiD· 3 shared Anita K. McElroyiD· 2 shared Scott E. HensleyiD· 2 shared A.J. CampbelliD· 1 shared Abigail P. PaulosiD· 1 shared

Activity by Year

2025-2026 · peak 3/yr

Co-Author Collaboration Network

10 top collaborators · 35 mutual co-author links

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4 shared papersMicrobiology

Seema S. LakdawalaORCID

Mutual co-authors in cluster

Author profile →

5 papers

Recent·Most cited

A lethal human H5N5 influenza virus isolate exhibits low pandemic risk traits

Michelle N. Vu, Gracie Quirk, Alexis E. Smathers, Kaitlyn Bushfield, Alaina L. Dorazio, Katelyn R. Domke, Gabrielle M. Humber, John Sembrat, Anita K. McElroy, Valerie Le Sage, Seema S. Lakdawala

This study analyzes an H5N5 influenza virus isolate that caused a human fatality, finding it lacks key traits associated with human pandemic potential.

bioRxiv · Jul 22, 2026 · PreprintMicrobiology

Variable transmission efficiency of mammalian origin HPAI D1.1 H5N1 strains in ferrets

Gracie Quirk, Michelle N. Vu, Valerie Le Sage, Kaitlyn Bushfield, Hanh Dung Nguyen, Seema S. Lakdawala

The paper assesses transmission efficiency of D1.1 H5N1 strains in ferrets, finding only one human isolate efficiently transmits, linked to the PB2 D701N mutation.

bioRxiv · May 8, 2026 · PreprintMicrobiology

Fatal Human H3N8 Influenza Virus has a Moderate Pandemic Risk

Valerie Le Sage, Michelle N. Vu, Maria A. Maltepes, Shengyang Wang, Brian Snow, Grace A. Merrbach, Alexandra J. Benton, Kylie E. Zirckel, Sarah E. Petnuch, Carly N. Marble, Lora Heather Rigatti, James C. Paulson, Elizabeth M. Drapeau, Anita K. McElroy, Scott E. Hensley, , Seema S. Lakdawala

The study assesses the pandemic risk of a fatal zoonotic H3N8 influenza virus from chickens, finding it has moderate pandemic potential due to its ability to infect humans and replicate in human cells.

PLoS Pathogens · Mar 3, 2026Peer-reviewedMicrobiology

Surveillance on California dairy farms reveals multiple possible sources of H5N1 transmission

A.J. Campbell, Meredith J. Shephard, Abigail P. Paulos, Matthew D. Pauly, Michelle N. Vu, Chloe M. Stenkamp-Strahm, Kaitlyn Bushfield, Betsy Hunter-Binns, Orlando III Sablon, Emily E. Bendall, William J. Fitzimmons, Kayla Brizuela, Gracie Quirk, Nirmal Kumar, Brian J. McCluskey, , Seema S. Lakdawala

The paper investigates H5N1 transmission on dairy farms by sampling air, wastewater, and milk, finding infectious virus in air and wastewater, viral RNA in cow breath, and subclinical infections in cows.

bioRxiv · Jul 31, 2025 · PreprintMicrobiology

The furin cleavage site is required for pathogenesis, but not transmission of SARS-CoV-2

Angelica L. Morgan, Michelle N. Vu, Yiyang Zhou, Kumari G. Lokugamage, William M. Meyers, R. Elias Alvarado, Yani P. Ahearn, Leah K. Estes, Jessica A. Plante, Bryan A. Johnson, Mehul S. Suthar, David Hughes Walker, Kenneth S. Plante, Vineet D. Menachery

This study shows that the furin cleavage site (FCS) is essential for SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis but not for transmission, as a mutant lacking FCS was transmissible in hamsters but caused less severe disease.

Journal of Virology · Jun 10, 2025Peer-reviewedMicrobiology