The paper tracks the evolution of Avian Influenza H5N1 genotype EA-2024-DI across three epidemic waves, showing changes in transmission patterns and increased mammalian host adaptation.

bioRxiv · May 26, 2026 · PreprintEvolutionary Biology

Outbreak dynamics of high pathogenicity avian influenza virus H5N1, clade 2.3.4.4b euBB, in black-headed gulls and common terns in Germany in 2023

Ulrich Knief, Ann Kathrin Ahrens, Valerie Allendorf, Carla J. Behringer, Justine Bertram, Sandra Bouwhuis, Wolfgang Fiedler, Anja Globig, Anne Günther, Christof Herrmann, Sascha Knauf, Dominik Marchowski, Simon Piro, Anne Pohlmann, Robert Ethan Rollins, , Timm Harder

This paper tracks the outbreak of HPAIV H5N1 euBB in black-headed gulls and common terns in Germany, showing multiple incursions, high mortality, and population declines.

Avian Pathology · Apr 15, 2026Peer-reviewedEcology

High pathogenicity avian influenza virus H5N1 (clade 2.3.4.4b) drives mass mortality in Eurasian crane (Grus grus) populations in Germany, 2025

Anne Günther, Christof Herrmann, Julia Sehl‐Ewert, Simon Piro, Ann Kathrin Ahrens, Sten Calvelage, Anne Pohlmann, Martin Beer, Timm Harder

The paper identifies H5N1 avian influenza virus as the cause of a mass mortality event in Eurasian cranes in Germany in 2025, linked to their social behavior.

bioRxiv · Dec 11, 2025 · PreprintEcology

The Winners Take It All? Global Evolutionary Success ofH5Nx Reassortants in the 2020-2024 Panzootic

James Baxter, Jing Yang, William T. Harvey, Simon Dellicour, Anne Pohlmann, Mingxiao Ma, Wenjun Liu, Yuhai Bi, Paul Digard, Martin Beer, Marion Koopmans, Samantha Lycett, Lu Lu

This study identifies 209 H5Nx reassortant strains of avian influenza viruses from 2020-2024, showing that reassortants from Europe had greater host range and persistence than those from Asia.

bioRxiv · Jul 19, 2025 · PreprintEvolutionary Biology

Outcome of H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b virus infection in calves and lactating cows

Nico Joël Halwe, Konner R. Cool, Angele Breithaupt, Jacob Schön, Jessie D. Trujillo, Mohammed Nooruzzaman, Taeyong Kwon, Ann Kathrin Ahrens, Tobias Britzke, Chester D. McDowell, Ronja Piesche, Gagandeep Singh, Vinícius Pinho dos Reis, Sujan Kafle, Anne Pohlmann, , Jüergen A. Richt

This study investigates H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b virus infection in calves and lactating cows, finding that mammary gland infection causes severe mastitis and reduced milk production, with transmission likely via milk rather than respiratory routes.

Nature · Sep 25, 2024Peer-reviewedMicrobiology

Red knots in Europe - a dead end host species or a new niche for highly pathogenic avian influenza?

Jacqueline King, Anne Pohlmann, Andreas Bange, Elisabeth Horn, Bernd Hälterlein, Angele Breithaupt, Anja Globig, Anne Günther, Angie Kelm, Christian Wiedemann, Christian Grund, Karena Haecker, Stefan Garthe, Timm Harder, Martin Beer, Philipp Schwemmer

A unique HPAIV H5N3 genotype caused mass mortality in red knots in 2020, suggesting red knots may act as a reservoir for the virus.

Journal of General Virology · Jul 8, 2024Peer-reviewedEcology

Next-generation diagnostics: virus capture facilitates a sensitive viral diagnosis for epizootic and zoonotic pathogens including SARS-CoV-2

Claudia Wylezich, Sten Calvelage, Kore Schlottau, Ute Ziegler, Anne Pohlmann, Dirk W. Höper, Martin Beer

The paper introduces a targeted enrichment method for virus detection using RNA-baits, showing improved sensitivity for both closely and distantly related viruses.

Microbiome · Feb 20, 2021Peer-reviewedGenomics