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
About viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) virus. Potential threat of Great Lakes VHS virus in Western United States
Host specificity and ecology of infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) in Pacific salmonids
Complex dynamics at the interface between wild and domestic viruses of finfish
Larval and juvenile Pacific herring Clupea pallasii are not susceptible to infectious hematopoietic necrosis under laboratory conditions
A nuclear localization of the infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus NV protein is necessary for optimal viral growth
A reverse genetics system for the Great Lakes strain of viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus: the NV gene is required for pathogenicity
Emergence of viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus in the North American Great Lakes region is associated with low viral genetic diversity
Development of an aquatic pathogen database (AquaPathogen X) and its utilization in tracking emerging fish virus pathogens in North America
In vivo fitness correlates with host-specific virulence of Infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) in sockeye salmon and rainbow trout
Specificity of DNA vaccines against the U and M genogroups of infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Detection of Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus by Quantitative Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction from Two Fish Species at Two Sites in Lake Superior
Virulence correlates with fitness in vivo for two M group genotypes of Infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV).
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
About viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) virus. Potential threat of Great Lakes VHS virus in Western United States
Viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) is a disease caused by a virus (VHSV). There are different strains of the virus that can infect marine and freshwater fish species, and the different strains may affect species differently. VHSV has recently invaded the Great Lakes, resulting in many large-scale fish die-offs and new regulatory restrictions for aquaculture throughout the region.AuthorsJerri L Bartholomew, Gael Kurath, Evi EmmeneggerHost specificity and ecology of infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) in Pacific salmonids
Some circumstances IHNV infection can cause acute disease with mortality ranging from 5-90% in host populations. Genetic typing of IHNV field isolates has shown that three major genetic groups of the virus occur in North America. These groups are designated the U, M, and L virus genogroups because they occur in the upper, middle, and lower portions of the geographic range of IHNV in western NorthAuthorsGael Kurath, A. Garver, M. K. Purcell, Ma. Penaranda, RudakovaComplex dynamics at the interface between wild and domestic viruses of finfish
Viral traffic occurs readily between wild and domesticated stocks of finfish because aquatic environments have greater connectivity than their terrestrial counterparts and because the global expansion and dynamic nature of intensive aquaculture provide multiple pathways of transmission and unique drivers of virus adaptation. Supported by examples from the literature, we provide reasons why virusesAuthorsGael Kurath, J. WintonLarval and juvenile Pacific herring Clupea pallasii are not susceptible to infectious hematopoietic necrosis under laboratory conditions
Infectious hematopoietic necrosis (IHN) leads to periodic epidemics among certain wild and farmed fish species of the Northeast (NE) Pacific. The source of the IHN virus (IHNV) that initiates these outbreaks remains unknown; however, a leading hypothesis involves viral persistence in marine host species such as Pacific herring Clupea pallasii. Under laboratory conditions we exposed specific pathoAuthorsL.M. Hart, G.S. Traxler, K.A. Garver, J. Richard, J.L. Gregg, C.A. Grady, Gael Kurath, P.K. HershbergerA nuclear localization of the infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus NV protein is necessary for optimal viral growth
The nonvirion (NV) protein of infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) has been previously reported to be essential for efficient growth and pathogenicity of IHNV. However, little is known about the mechanism by which the NV supports the viral growth. In this study, cellular localization of NV and its role in IHNV growth in host cells was investigated. Through transient transfection in RTG-2AuthorsM.K. Choi, C. H. Moon, M.S. Ko, U.-H. Lee, W. Cho, S.J. Cha, J.W. Do, G.J. Heo, S.G. Jeong, Y.S. Hahm, A. Harmache, M. Bremont, Gael Kurath, J. W. ParkA reverse genetics system for the Great Lakes strain of viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus: the NV gene is required for pathogenicity
Viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV), belonging to the genus Novirhabdovirus in the family of Rhabdoviridae, causes a highly contagious disease of fresh and saltwater fish worldwide. Recently, a novel genotype of VHSV, designated IVb, has invaded the Great Lakes in North America, causing large-scale epidemics in wild fish. An efficient reverse genetics system was developed to generate a recomAuthorsArun Ammayappan, Gael Kurath, Tarin M. Thompson, Vikram N. VakhariaEmergence of viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus in the North American Great Lakes region is associated with low viral genetic diversity
Viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) is a fish rhabdovirus that causes disease in a broad range of marine and freshwater hosts. The known geographic range includes the Northern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and recently it has invaded the Great Lakes region of North America. The goal of this work was to characterize genetic diversity of Great Lakes VHSV isolates at the early stage of this virAuthorsT.M. Thompson, W.N. Batts, M. Faisal, P. Bowser, J.W. Casey, K. Phillips, K.A. Garver, J. Winton, Gael KurathDevelopment of an aquatic pathogen database (AquaPathogen X) and its utilization in tracking emerging fish virus pathogens in North America
The AquaPathogen X database is a template for recording information on individual isolates of aquatic pathogens and is freely available for download (http://wfrc.usgs.gov). This database can accommodate the nucleotide sequence data generated in molecular epidemiological studies along with the myriad of abiotic and biotic traits associated with isolates of various pathogens (e.g. viruses, parasitesAuthorsE.J. Emmenegger, E. Kentop, T.M. Thompson, S. Pittam, A. Ryan, D. Keon, J.A. Carlino, J. Ranson, R.B. Life, R.M. Troyer, K.A. Garver, Gael KurathIn vivo fitness correlates with host-specific virulence of Infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) in sockeye salmon and rainbow trout
The relationship between virulence and overall within-host fitness of the fish rhabdovirus Infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) was empirically investigated in vivo for two virus isolates belonging to different IHNV genogroups that exhibit opposing host-specific virulence. U group isolates are more virulent in sockeye salmon and M group isolates are more virulent in rainbow trout. In botAuthorsM.M.D. Penaranda, A. R. Wargo, Gael KurathSpecificity of DNA vaccines against the U and M genogroups of infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) is a fish rhabdovirus that causes significant mortality in salmonid species. In North America IHNV has three major genogroups designated U, M, and L. Host-specificity of the M and U genogroups of IHNV has been established both in the field and in experimental challenges, with M isolates being more prevalent and more virulent in rainbow trout (OncorhynAuthorsM.M.D. Penaranda, S. E. LaPatra, Gael KurathDetection of Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus by Quantitative Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction from Two Fish Species at Two Sites in Lake Superior
Viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) was first detected in the Laurentian Great Lakes in 2005 during a mortality event in the Bay of Quinte, Lake Ontario. Subsequent analysis of archived samples determined that the first known isolation of VHSV in the Laurentian Great Lakes was from a muskellunge Esox masquinongy collected in Lake St. Clair in 2003. By the end of 2008, mortality events and viAuthorsEmily R. Cornwell, Geofrey E. Eckerlin, Rodman G. Getchell, Geoffrey H. Groocock, Tarin M. Thompson, William N. Batts, Rufina N. Casey, Gael Kurath, James R. Winton, Paul R. Bowser, Mark B. Bain, James W. CaseyVirulence correlates with fitness in vivo for two M group genotypes of Infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV).
The nature of the association between viral fitness and virulence remains elusive in vertebrate virus systems, partly due to a lack of in vivo experiments using statistically sufficient numbers of replicate hosts. We examined the relationship between virulence and fitness in Infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV), in vivo, in intact living rainbow trout. Trout were infected with a high orAuthorsAndrew R. Wargo, Kyle A. Garver, Gael KurathNon-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