Gael Kurath, Ph.D.
Viruses and infectious diseases are natural components of every ecosystem. In aquatic ecosystems of the Pacific Northwest infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) is a significant viral pathogen of many salmonid fish populations. Studies of IHNV molecular biology, pathogenesis, field ecology, and evolution contribute to understanding and management of viral disease in salmon and trout.
Research Interests:
Our research involves viral diseases in finfish, with an emphasis on the rhabdovirus IHNV in Pacific salmon and trout of Pacific Northwest ecosystems. We conduct landscape-scale genetic typing of IHNV as it occurs across Western North America and use phylogenetic analyses and molecular epidemiology to identify patterns of virus occurrence, transmission, and disease impacts across large geographic regions, and over many years. This has revealed divergence of IHNV into three major genetic groups (U, M, or L) with distinct host specificities and geographic ranges in North America. There is also clear evidence for viral host jumps, displacement events, and evolution of both specialist and generalist virus lineages. Potential drivers of these evolutionary events are tested in controlled wet laboratory challenge studies in salmonid fish, providing sound scientific data on the biological basis of patterns observed in the field. In a recent project we demonstrated evolution of increasing virulence as a driver of viral genotype displacements in steelhead trout of the Columbia River Basin and worked with collaborators to develop the first landscape-scale transmission model for IHNV. We also explore the biological basis of specialist (adapted to single host species) and generalist (adapted to multiple host species) viruses, using naturally evolved subgroups of IHNV. This has potential to explain changes in virus types and disease impacts observed in the Columbia River Basin, and it also serves as a tractable research model for empirical testing of predictions of basic specialist-generalist theory for pathogens. Finally, we collaborate with other researchers to investigate the evolution of IHNV virulence after a historical host jump from sockeye salmon to farmed rainbow trout using a historical panel of over 60 IHNV isolates collected over the last 50 years. Long-term interests include understanding drivers of viral evolution and ecology, host and virus factors that define virus transmission and transmission models, and how human activities can be modified to avoid unintended disease consequences.
Professional Experience
1992 to Present - Research Microbiologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center, Seattle, WA
1989 - 1992 - Postdoctoral researcher, Plant Virology, University of California, Riverside, CA
1985 - 1988 - Postdoctoral researcher, Plant Virology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. 1985. Virology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
M.S. 1980. Marine Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
B.A. 1978. Microbiology, Miami University, Oxford, OH
Affiliations and Memberships*
University of Washington, affiliate faculty in Pathobiology with graduate faculty status. 1994 to Present (full professor since 2017).
University of Washington, affiliate faculty in the School of Aquatic and Fisheries Sciences with graduate faculty status (2007 to Present).
International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses, member of study groups Rhabdovirus family (1997 to Present), Paramyxovirus Family (2008 to present), and Mononegavirales Super-family (2008 to Present).
International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses, member of study groups Rhabdovirus family (1997 to Present), Paramyxovirus Family (2008 to present), and Mononegavirales Super-family (2008 to Present).
Scientific Journal Editorial Board: Virology (1995-1998); Journal of Aquatic Animal Health (2002-2005); Diseases of Aquatic Organisms (2011-2015); Journal of General Virology (2011-2016).
Ad hoc reviewer for numerous journals.
Grant review panel member or panel chair: USDA Biotechnology Risk Assessment (1996, 1997); USDA NRI Virology (1999, 2000); USDA-NIFA AFRI Diseases of Agricultural Animals program (2020).
American Fisheries Society, Fish Health Section, member since 1994, nominating/balloting committee member 2002-2003; chair 2004.
American Fisheries Society, Fish Health Section, elected vice-president 2006, executive committee 2006-2010, president 2008.
American Society for Virology member since 1983.
Honors and Awards
Special Achievement Award, American Fisheries, Society Fish Health Section, 1999
U.S. Department of the Interior Star Awards, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2008
Snieszko Distinguished Service Award, Fish Health Section, American Fisheries Society, 2020
Science and Products
Fish Rhabdoviruses (Rhabdoviridae)
Infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus specialization in a multihost salmonid system
The nucleoprotein and phosphoprotein are major determinants of the virulence of viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus in rainbow trout
The glycoprotein, non-virion protein, and polymerase of viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus are not determinants of host-specific virulence in rainbow trout
Phylogeography and evolution of infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus in China
Molecular systematics of sturgeon nucleocytoplasmic large DNA viruses
Insight into infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) in Chinese rainbow trout aquaculture from virus isolated from 7 provinces in 2010–2014
An epidemiological model of virus transmission in salmonid fishes of the Columbia River Basin
Virulence of a chimeric recombinant infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus expressing the spring viraemia of carp virus glycoprotein in salmonid and cyprinid fish
Vaccine effects on heterogeneity in susceptibility and implications for population health management
Complete sequences of 4 viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus IVb isolates and their virulence in northern pike fry
A effective DNA vaccine against diverse genotype J infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus strains prevalent in China
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
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Filter Total Items: 146
Fish Rhabdoviruses (Rhabdoviridae)
The family Rhabdoviridae currently has 18 genera accepted by the International Committee for Virus Taxonomy (ICTV), and three of those genera contain fish rhabdoviruses. In the genera Novirhabdovirus, Sprivivirus, and Perhabdovirus all viruses infect fish hosts, and there are no fish viruses in any of the other 15 rhabdovirus genera. In the overall phylogeny of the Rhabdoviridae the three fish virAuthorsGael Kurath, David B. StoneInfectious hematopoietic necrosis virus specialization in a multihost salmonid system
Many pathogens interact and evolve in communities where more than one host species is present, yet our understanding of host–pathogen specialization is mostly informed by laboratory studies with single species. Managing diseases in the wild, however, requires understanding how host–pathogen specialization affects hosts in diverse communities. Juvenile salmonid mortality in hatcheries caused by infAuthorsDavid Paez, Shannon L. LaDeau, Rachel Breyta, Gael Kurath, Kerry A. Naish, Paige FergusonThe nucleoprotein and phosphoprotein are major determinants of the virulence of viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus in rainbow trout
Viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV), a fish rhabdovirus, infects several marine and freshwater fish species. There are many strains of VHSV that affect different fish, but some strains of one genetic subgroup have gained high virulence in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). To define the genetic basis of high virulence in trout, we used reverse genetics to create chimeric VHSVs in which virAuthorsVikram N Vakharia, Jie Liu, Douglas Mckenney, Gael KurathThe glycoprotein, non-virion protein, and polymerase of viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus are not determinants of host-specific virulence in rainbow trout
Viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV), a fish rhabdovirus belonging to the Novirhabdovirus genus, causes severe disease and mortality in many marine and freshwater fish species worldwide. VHSV isolates are classified into four genotypes and each group is endemic to specific geographic regions in the north Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Most viruses in the European VHSV genotype Ia are highly virAuthorsShamila Yusuff, Gael Kurath, Min Sun Kim, Tarin M Tesfaye, Jie Liu, Douglas Mckenney, Vikram N VakhariaPhylogeography and evolution of infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus in China
Infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) is a well-known rhabdoviral pathogen of salmonid fish. In this study, a comprehensive analysis of 40 IHNV viruses isolated from thirteen fish farms in nine geographically dispersed Chinese provinces during 2012 to 2017 is presented. Identity of nucleotide and amino acid sequences among all the complete glycoprotein (G) genes from Chinese isolates wasAuthorsLiming Xu, Jingzhuang Zhao, Miao Liu, Gael Kurath, Rachel B. Breyta, Guangming Ren, Jiasheng Yin, Hongbai Liu, Tongyan LuMolecular systematics of sturgeon nucleocytoplasmic large DNA viruses
Namao virus (NV) is a sturgeon nucleocytoplasmic large DNA virus (sNCLDV) that can cause a lethal disease of the integumentary system in lake sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens. As a group, the sNCLDV have not been assigned to any currently recognized taxonomic family of viruses. In this study, a data set of NV DNA sequences was generated and assembled as two non-overlapping contigs of 306,448 bp and tAuthorsSharon Clouthier, Eric Anderson, Gael Kurath, Rachel BreytaInsight into infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) in Chinese rainbow trout aquaculture from virus isolated from 7 provinces in 2010–2014
The aquatic rhabdovirus infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) currently causes substantial fish losses in Chinese coldwater aquaculture. While IHNV was first reported in China in 1985 and has since undergone considerable spread, little is known about the underlying epidemiological patterns like introduction sources and transmission routes. In this study, we examined epidemiological and phAuthorsPeng Jia, Rachel B. Breyta, Qing Li, Xu Qian, Bing Wu, Wei Zheng, Zhiqing Wen, Ying Liu, Gael Kurath, Qunyi Hua, Ningyi Jin, Hong LiuAn epidemiological model of virus transmission in salmonid fishes of the Columbia River Basin
We have developed a dynamic epidemiological model informed by records of viral presence and genotypes to evaluate potential transmission routes maintaining a viral pathogen in economically and culturally important anadromous fish populations. In the Columbia River Basin, infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) causes severe disease, predominantly in juvenile steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus myAuthorsPaige F. B. Ferguson, Rachel Breyta, Ilana L. Brito, Gael Kurath, Shannon L. LaDeauVirulence of a chimeric recombinant infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus expressing the spring viraemia of carp virus glycoprotein in salmonid and cyprinid fish
Infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) and spring viraemia of carp virus (SVCV) are both rhabdoviruses of fish, listed as notifiable disease agents by the World Organization for Animal Health. Recombinant rhabdoviruses with heterologous gene substitutions have been engineered to study genetic determinants and assess the potential of these recombinant viruses for vaccine development. A recAuthorsEveline Emmenegger, Stéphane Biacchesi, Emilie Mérour, Jolene. A Glenn, Alexander D. Palmer, Michel Brémont, Gael KurathVaccine effects on heterogeneity in susceptibility and implications for population health management
Heterogeneity in host susceptibility is a key determinant of infectious disease dynamics but is rarely accounted for in assessment of disease control measures. Understanding how susceptibility is distributed in populations, and how control measures change this distribution, is integral to predicting the course of epidemics with and without interventions. Using multiple experimental and modeling apAuthorsKate E. Langwig, Andrew R. Wargo, Darbi R. Jones, Jessie R. Viss, Barbara J. Rutan, Nicholas A. Egan, Pedro Sá-Guimarães, Min Sun Kim, Gael Kurath, M. Gabriela M. Gomes, Marc LipsitchComplete sequences of 4 viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus IVb isolates and their virulence in northern pike fry
Four viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) genotype IVb isolates were sequenced, their genetic variation explored, and comparative virulence assayed with experimental infections of northern pike Esox lucius fry. In addition to the type strain MI03, the complete 11183 bp genome of the first round goby Neogobius melanostomus isolate from the St. Lawrence River, and the 2013 and 2014 isolates froAuthorsRodman G. Getchell, Emily R. Cornwell, Steven Bogdanowicz, Jose Andres, William N. Batts, Gael Kurath, Rachel Breyta, Joanna G. Choi, John M. Farrell, Paul R. BowserA effective DNA vaccine against diverse genotype J infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus strains prevalent in China
Infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) is the most important pathogen threatening the aquaculture of salmonid fish in China. In this study, a DNA vaccine, designated pIHNch-G, was constructed with the glycoprotein (G) gene of a Chinese IHNV isolate SD-12 (also called Sn1203) of genotype J. The minimal dose of vaccine required, the expression of the Mx-1 gene in the muscle (vaccine deliveryAuthorsLiming Xu, Jingzhuang Zhao, Miao Liu, Gael Kurath, Guangming Ren, Scott E. LaPatra, Jiasheng Yin, Hongbai Liu, Jian Feng, Tongyan LuNon-USGS Publications**
Kurath, G., and C. Robaglia. 1995. Genetic variation and evolution of satellite viruses and satellite RNAs. Pages 385-403 in A. Gibbs, C. Calisher, and F. Garcia-Arenal (eds.), Molecular Basis of Virus Evolution. Cambridge Press, Cambridge, U.K.Kurath, G., and J.A. Dodds. 1995. Mutation analyses of molecularly cloned satellite tobacco mosaic virus during serial passage in plants: evidence for hotspots of genetic change. RNA 1: 491-500.Kurath, G., and J.A. Dodds. 1994. Satellite tobacco mosaic virus sequence variants with only five nucleotide differences can interfere with each other in a cross protection-like phenomenon in plants. Virology 202(2): 1065-1069. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1006/viro.1994.1441.Rodriguez-Alvarado, G., G. Kurath, and J.A. Dodds. 1994. Symptom modification by satellite tobacco mosaic virus in pepper types and cultivars infected with helper tobamoviruses. Phytopathology 84(6): 617-621. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-84-617.Kurath, G., M.E. C. Rey, and J.A. Dodds. 1993. Tobamovirus helper specificity of satellite tobacco mosaic virus involves a domain near the 5' end of the satellite genome. Journal of General Virology 74(7): 1233-1243. DOI: 10.1099/0022-1317-74-7-1233.Kurath, G., M.E. C. Rey, and J.A. Dodds. 1992. Analysis of genetic heterogeneity within the type strain of satellite tobacco mosaic virus reveals several variants and a strong bias for G to A substitution mutations. Virology 189(1): 233-244. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0042-6822(92)90699-P.Kurath, G., and P. Palukaitis. 1990. Serial passage of infectious transcripts of a cucumber mosaic virus satellite RNA clone results in sequence heterogeneity. Virology 176(1): 8-15. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0042-6822(90)90224-F.Kurath, G., and P. Palukaitis. 1989. RNA sequence heterogeneity in natural populations of three satellite RNAs of cucumber mosaic virus. Virology 173(1): 231-240. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0042-6822(89)90239-0.Kurath, G., and P. Palukaitis. 1987. Biological activity of T7 transcripts of a prototype clone and a sequence variant clone of a satellite RNA of cucumber mosaic virus. Virology 159(2):199-208. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0042-6822(87)90456-9.Kurath, G., and J.C. Leong. 1985. Characterization of IHN virus mRNA species reveals a non-virion rhabdovirus protein. Journal of Virology 53(2):462-468.Kurath, G., K.G. Ahern, G.D. Pearson, and J.C. Leong. 1985. Molecular cloning of six mRNA species of IHNV, a fish rhabdovirus: Gene order determined by R-loop mapping. Journal of Virology 53(2): 469-476.Kurath, G., and R.Y. Morita. 1983. Some physiological studies on starvation survival of a marine Pseudomonas sp. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 45(4):1206-1211.**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
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*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government