How segmented viruses shuffle genes to become new threats
Official title: US-UK Collab: Modelling reassortment at the cellular, clinical, and phylogenetic level in emerging Bunyaviruses
Funded at Triad National Security, LLC · NIH-11116968 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how hemorrhagic fever viruses like Crimean-Congo can swap whole gene segments during coinfection and what that might mean for people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Triad National Security, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Alamos, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 1, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $447,570 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI167048-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11116968 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with confirmed or suspected Bunyavirus infection, or those living in outbreak-prone regions who can provide samples, genetic data, or clinical records, would be the most relevant to contribute.
✕Less likely to help
People without exposure to Bunyaviruses or those seeking immediate treatment for unrelated conditions are unlikely to benefit directly from this research.
What this research studies
Researchers will build computer and mathematical models of how segmented viruses behave inside cells and during infection to simulate gene-segment swapping called reassortment. They will compare these models with laboratory data, virus genome sequences, and clinical and epidemiological patterns to link cellular events to real-world outbreaks. The team focuses on Bunyaviruses that cause diseases such as Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever to identify circumstances when new, potentially dangerous virus combinations might emerge. Results are intended to inform surveillance and public-health actions to reduce the risk of future outbreaks.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help public health teams spot and prepare for new virus strains before they spread widely, reducing illness and deaths.
How similar studies have gone: Similar modeling and genetic analyses have revealed reassortment in influenza, but applying these approaches to Bunyaviruses is newer and less established.
Where this research is happening
-
Triad National Security, LLC
Los Alamos, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Molina-Paris, Carmen — Triad National Security, LLC
- Study coordinator: Molina-Paris, Carmen
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.