This study quantifies genetic drift in within-host influenza virus populations using a population genetic model, finding low effective population sizes and evidence against the Wright-Fisher model in swine infections.

Virus Evolution · Jan 1, 2026Peer-reviewedEvolutionary Biology

Pre-epidemic evolution of the USA300 clade and a molecular key for classification

Colleen M. Bianco, Ahmed M. Moustafa, Kelsey O’Brien, Michael A. Martin, Timothy D. Read, Barry N. Kreiswirth, Paul Joseph Planet

The paper reconstructs the pre-epidemic evolution of the USA300 MRSA lineage using genomic data and identifies a third major clade and molecular markers for classification.

bioRxiv · Dec 5, 2022 · PreprintGenomics

Full genome viral sequences inform patterns of SARS-CoV-2 spread into and within Israel

Danielle Miller, Michael A. Martin, Noam Harel, Omer Tirosh, Talia Kustin, Moran Meir, Nadav Sorek, Shiraz Gefen-Halevi, Sharon Amit, Olesya M. Vorontsov, Avraham Shaag, Dana G. Wolf, Avi Peretz, Yonat Shemer‐Avni, Diana Roif-Kaminsky, , Adi Stern

This study uses full genome SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Israel to trace viral spread, find multiple introductions, and show the impact of social distancing on transmission.

Nature Communications · Nov 2, 2020Peer-reviewedGenetic & Genomic Medicine