Jesse Brunner
Jesse Brunner

Jesse Brunner, assistant professor of biology, is part of an international effort to find out why ranaviruses, a group of DNA-based pathogens that can infect and destroy virtually every tissue throughout the bodies of amphibians, fish and reptiles, are deadly when introduced to certain animal species and habitats but are relatively benign in others.

“Concern about ranaviruses has been growing in recent years with the discovery of ranaviruses being spread in trade and with mounting evidence that certain strains are found all around the world, sometimes causing mass die-offs of amphibians and certain fish and reptiles,” Brunner said. “We think that, like other pathogens, ranaviruses are contributing to the global decline in amphibians.”

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