Charles S. P. Foster

vartracker analyzes and visualizes pathogen variants over time, tracking their evolution and classification across longitudinal datasets.

The paper shows how SARS-CoV-2 variants, particularly Omicron, evolved proteolytic controls at the Spike furin cleavage site to enhance transmission while reducing lower respiratory tract pathogenicity.

This study compares the antiviral activity and host response of four drugs in HCMV-infected brain organoids, showing varying effects on viral load and gene expression.

The paper examines genome erosion in Blattabacterium symbionts of soil-burrowing cockroaches, finding repeated gene inactivation linked to host transitions to an underground lifestyle.

This study investigates discordant sequence data in SARS-CoV-2 whole genome sequencing to improve bioinformatic quality standards and surveillance practices.

The paper identifies a SARS-CoV-2 variant with an ORF7a deletion that persisted during a major outbreak but shows no clear fitness advantage in cell culture.

The paper reports the rapid spread of a SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant with a frameshift deletion in ORF7a, which may reduce suppression of host restriction factors and is prevalent in Australian outbreaks.

This study finds that proportionally linking branch lengths across loci provides the best fit for phylogenetic inference compared to other models.